Sri Lanka and Burma top of the agenda in Brussels (18/05/2009)
Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, joined other EU foreign ministers in Brussels for the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting. The main items on the agenda were the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka and the trial of Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The foreign ministers said they were 'appalled by the loss of innocent civilian lives' as a result of the conflict in Sri Lanka and called on the Government and the LTTE to 'take all necessary steps to prevent further loss of life'.
During 2008, the human rights situation in Burma deteriorated even further. At the end of 2008, harsh sentences were given to over 200 democracy activists.
Burma's citizens continue to be denied of almost all fundamental rights, including the ability to have any say in the country's future.
Suffering in Burma caused by the regime's economic mismanagement was made more acute by the effects of the devastating cyclone Nargis in May 2008.
Political prisoners
The overall number of political prisoners held in Burma increased sharply during 2008. Many political prisoners detained during, or following, the 2007 protests were brought before secret tribunals on a range of charges, many receiving severe sentences and dispersed to prisons in remote areas, where conditions are poor and they are unable to draw on the support of their families.
Former student activists who had led the 1988 protests – for which they had already served lengthy prison terms – were detained once again in August 2007, and have recently been sentenced to 65 years each. Many monks, lawyers, bloggers and members of the artistic community were also given lengthy sentences.
The overall number of political prisoners in Burma has increased by around 1,000 over the past year.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest.
The overall picture remains bleak. It is estimated that over 2,000 political prisoners remain in detention. The regime has resisted all calls for an accurate accounting of those held and the International Committee of the Red Cross has not been permitted to visit any political prisoners since 2005.
Ethnic minorities
Many ethnic minority communities and religious groups in Burma are discriminated against, through failure to protect or respect their cultures and languages, and their inability to practise non-Buddhist religions.
In the west of the country the Muslim Rohingya face a range of restrictions on their freedom to travel, marry, study or practise their faith.
The Burmese army's regular campaigns in Karen State have left many villages destroyed, causing a significant level of internal displacement.
Many members of the Chin community living on the border with India are currently enduring a famine caused by a plague of rats, a phenomenon that affects the region every 50 years but for which the regime had made no preparations.
The FCO emphasise regularly to the Burmese regime, and to countries in the region, the need for the full and fair participation of ethnic nationalities in the political process as key to a durable solution to Burma's problems.
Regime roadmap
The Burmese regime has pressed ahead with its political 'roadmap' and resisted all calls to make the process more open and inclusive. On 10 May, 8 days after Cyclone Nar y y gis devastated the Irrawady delta, a referendum on a new
constitution was held.
After an international outcry, the poll was postponed in the cyclone-affected areas until 24 May. There were numerous reports of voting irregularities and the final result lacked all credibility. The next step in the process will see 'elections'
held in 2010, which according to the government will result in the emergence of a 'disciplined democracy'.
Efforts by the UN during the course of 2008 to obtain the release of political prisoners and dialogue between government and opposition were consistently rebuffed.
Forced labour
The Burmese government have passed a law banning forced labour and the recruitment of individuals under the age of 18. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) still faces an enormous challenge in eliminating forced labour perpetrated by the military and officials at a local level.
Humanitarian
On 2 May 2008, Cyclone Nar y y gis devastated the Irrawaddy delta area and Rangoon, killing some 130,000 people and left thousands more without shelter, land, or any source of food or income.
From -http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/fco-in-action/conflict/human-rights/burma/
