The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the resolution on the situation of human rights in Myanmar adopted on 14 April 2005 at the 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, and to the resolution on the situation of human rights in Myanmar adopted by the UN General Assembly on 23 December 2004,

–   having regard to the report of the UN Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in Myanmar of 10 October 2005,

–   having regard to the Chairman's Statement of the Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) of Foreign Ministers held in Kyoto on 6 to 7 May 2005,

–   having regard to its previous resolutions on Burma, in particular that of 12 May 2005(1),

–   having regard to Rule 115(5) of the Rules of Procedure,

A.   whereas the people of Burma are subject to human rights abuses, including forced labour, persecution of dissidents, conscription of child soldiers, rape and pillage by government troops, and forced relocation,

B.  B whereas under its 'Four Cuts' strategy the Burmese military practise brutality and repression against the population in the seven ethnic states of Burma,

C.   whereas the Sixth ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Kildare on 17 to18 April 2004 laid down clear conditions for Burma's entry into ASEM, including the release of Aung San Suu Kyi as a minimum condition, allowing the National League for Democracy (NLD) to operate freely, and starting genuine political dialogue with pro-democracy and ethnic groups in Burma,

D.   whereas none of these conditions have been fulfilled by the Burmese dictatorship,

E.   whereas, on 6 July 2005, the Government of Burma released 249 political prisoners, including dissidents and NLD activists; whereas, however, according to the Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, there are still over 1000 people imprisoned for political reasons,

F.   whereas the National Convention in Burma will be convened in December 2005 without the participation of the NLD and without due democratic process, thus failing to guarantee the proper representation of the Burmese people,

G.   whereas, on 2 November 2005, the Burmese military dictatorship sentenced Hkun Htun Oo, Chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, to 90 years in prison, General Hso Hten, President of the Shan State Peace Council, to 106 years in prison and eight other Shan leaders to 70 years in prison each, all of whom have been detained in prison since February 2005 and denied the possibility of being assisted by the lawyers of their choice and seeing their family,

H.   whereas, in June 2005, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) decided to 'reactivate' the measures that it had adopted in June 2000 calling for members to review their relations (under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution) with Burma because of its continuing large-scale use of forced labour,

I.   whereas, the report commissioned by former President of the Czech Republic Václav Havel and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 'Threat to the Peace - A Call for the UN Security Council to Act in Burma', clearly demonstrates the need for UN Security Council action,

1.  Calls on the UN Security Council to address the situation in Burma as a matter of urgency and to empower the UN Secretary-General to mediate in Burma in order to bring about national reconciliation and a transition to democracy, and calls on the UN Security Council to take the necessary measures to impose economic sanctions against Burma in an effort to force change;

2.  Condemns the total disregard of the military dictatorship for the welfare of the people of Burma;

3.  Condemns the Burmese military's brutal campaign involving forcible relocations against several major ethnic groups fighting for autonomy;

4.  Demands the immediate release and full freedom of movement and expression for Aung San Suu Kyi, Hkun Htun Oo, General Hso Hten, other political leaders and all political prisoners held by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC);

5.  Insists that the SPDC immediately initiate a meaningful dialogue with the NLD and ethnic groups to bring about a return to democracy and respect for human rights, including ethnic minority rights and state rights in Burma;

6.  Insists that the EU's Common Policy on Burma be strengthened immediately by:

7.  Calls for a high-ranking EU envoy to be appointed to work towards securing the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, Hkun Htun Oo and other political leaders, to develop a comprehensive EU strategy on Burma enabling humanitarian aid to be delivered to the people of Burma from within Burma and through cross-border strategies, and to bring about a transition to democracy and respect for human rights;

8.  Deeply regrets the fact that the Government of Burma has not yet undertaken all the relevant measures to allow the Joint Government of the Union of Myanmar - International Labour Organization Plan of Action for the elimination of forced labour practices in Myanmar to come into force;

9.  Calls on the EU to endorse the report and resolution proposed in the abovementioned report 'Threat to the Peace - A Call for the UN Security Council to Act in Burma';

10.  Urges all members of the ILO within the EU to seriously review their relations, under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution, with Burma, as called for by the ILO;

11.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the ASEAN and ASEM member states, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD, the SPDC, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.

(1) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2005)0186. (2) OJ L 323, 26.10.2004, p. 11.