On 24 October, Labour’s Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, marked the twelfth anniversary of the house arrest of the elected leader of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, by calling on the military regime to release its political prisoners and begin a process of national reconciliation."The steps that the regime must now take are clear: end the violence; release prisoners; grant effective access to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma, Sergio Pinheiro and the International Committee of the Red Cross; and engagement in a UN-led process of national reconciliation that involves leaders of all Burma's political opposition and ethnic groups, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi."
The Prime Minister has repeatedly warned that lack of progress would result in a tightening of EU sanctions against the regime and promised measures to help boost the country's ailing economy if movement towards democratic reform was made.
“For 45 years the people of Burma have been denied democracy and economic development. This must change. We must see an end to the use of violence against those who have peacefully demonstrated for their rights. We must see the release of all political prisoners and detainees, including trade unionists.
It is time for the Burmese regime to have a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who must finally be released from house arrest, and with all concerned parties and ethnic groups in Burma. Burma cannot continue in this way. The world must not let it do so. We must all do what we can to help”
Rt. Hon. David Miliband MP, Labour’s Foreign Secretary.
The Government has strongly condemned the violence against monks and peaceful demonstrators. But the terror for many Burmese continues and the situation on the ground remains dire. We salute the courage of the Burmese people at a time when the Burmese regime is seeking revenge on those who dared to speak out.
The Government’s key aim is to mobilise support, particularly among Burma’s neighbours, for UN efforts to promote a process of genuine reconciliation in Burma.
UK policy is aimed at “sharpening the choice for the regime”. We want to increase penalties for non-engagement and show more clearly benefits of engagement.
• The UN Security Council adopted its first ever statement on Burma by consensus – including China. It represents a very significant shift in global politics from just a few weeks ago and sends a clear signal to the regime that they are isolated. They cannot hope to maintain the status quo. The international community wants to see an early return to Burma by the UN Special Envoy Gambari.
• It is right that the Security Council remains fully engaged. The Prime Minister has said that if progress on the ground is insufficient the Council will need to consider further measures.
• UN Human Rights Council condemned human rights abuses. It wants urgent access to Burma for the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Pinhiero and for the President of ICRC.
• The Government is encouraging all those with influence on the Burmese regime to keep up pressure – particularly on Burma’s neighbours. China’s efforts to help Gambari’s mission are welcome. The Government welcomes ASEAN’s firm statement expressing revulsion at suppression of demonstration and calling for reconciliation.
• The EU sanctions are targeted on the economic interests of the regime. The EU decided on 15 October to strengthen trade sanctions in those sectors – timber, minerals, metals, gems – from which the regime draws most of its revenue. We are drawing up further restrictive measures – including a ban on new investment – which may be implemented depending on developments on the ground.
• The UK has negligible investments in Burma. The last two significant British investors pulled out, after representations from the UK government, several years ago.
If progress with reconciliation and democracy is made, the international community is ready to support recovery with aid and other support. The Prime Minister launched an economic initiative involving the UN, International Financial Institutions and bilateral donors: he has written to G7 leaders, Premier Wen, Prime Minister Singh, the IMF and the World Bank to take this forward.
As Aung San Suu Kyi has herself said, the military must play an important part in a future democratic Burma. But the military dictatorship must end.
Meanwhile the UK has announced an additional £1million to meet the urgent humanitarian needs in Burma arising from this latest episode of gross misrule. This will help ensure that vulnerable people do not suffer because of the actions of the regime.