Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-03-13-Speech-4-145"
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"en.20030313.7.4-145"2
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"Mr President, there have now been too many years of systematic violation of human rights by the military regime in Burma – the Parliament should be active but it is non-existent – although there have, without a doubt, been improvements in the sectors of political and social life, and progress has been made in the area of individual freedoms, the most important element of which is the release of a remarkable woman who is leading democratic, non-violent resistance with determination and dignity – Aung San Suu Kyi. She is not yet free, however, and cannot move about freely.
In reality, however, Burma still continues to be afflicted by the repression of ethnic minorities, rape and violence against women. The elimination of political dissidents and summary executions have not stopped. Torture, detention and forced labour are common practice. Despite the government’s denials, I believe that children are still forced to join the army
and also, I regret to say, the rebel military forces.
There are thousands of people suffering who we do not hear about from the media as we did, I am glad to say, in the case of the 13 years of house arrests imposed on the Nobel Peace Prize-winner. Consider, for example, the tragic child-soldier system. ‘It is a good idea to conscript children because they do the same job as adults but they are difficult for the enemy army to see’, one official had the courage to say.
Forced labour is still common practice: recent Amnesty International surveys have shown that approximately 90% of the population of the State of Shan
are subject to forced labour. These people have no choice: either forced labour or prison. Their work, for which they are not paid, consists of building military infrastructure, roads, buildings and military camps and even performing military duties. They work without a break from morning until night, with no food except a small quantity of toasted rice.
Despite the fact that the Burmese penal code has banned forced labour, the situation has not changed. It has not changed despite the presence of the International Labour Organisation. Even the recent endeavours of the Thai Government have been frustrated by the categorical opposition of the Burmese authorities, which have even refused to give members of the political opposition permission to leave the country in order to discuss its economic problems. Worst of all is the continued abuse of power by the Burmese army, the military intelligence services, the police and other security forces.
I genuinely believe, as other Members have said too, that the European Union must both continue to use its influence to press for negotiations between the democratic groupings, the ethnic minorities and the State to resume as soon as possible, and put pressure on the Burmese authorities, continuing, that is, with the current trade policy on Burma and, if possible, taking even stronger measures to curb the scourge of forced labour, in particular. It must also undertake to pursue …"@en1
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