EU must push for tougher sanctions on Burma OPINION / OTHER June 29, The Irish Times EU must push for tougher sanctions on Burma – John Boorman At the first of U2's concerts in Dublin, Bono led 80,000 people in singing Happy Birthday to Burma's imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi, or the Lady, as she is known by her people. The previous Sunday, on the actual date of her 60th birthday and marking her 2,523rd day in detention, Michael Stipe of REM used his Irish platform to dedicate three songs to her and call for her release. His appeal was beamed live into Rangoon by RTÉ's 2FM. Galway City Council marked the occasion by conferring on Suu Kyi the title of honorary freeman of the city, to add to the freedom of Dublin awarded her in 2000. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern also reiterated that diplomatic relations with Burma were impossible while she remained under house arrest. These heartfelt and steadfast displays of Irish solidarity are part of a worldwide show of support for Suu Kyi and the estimated 1,500 political prisoners still languishing in jails in Burma, most of whom supported the National League for Democracy (NLD), Suu Kyi's political party. The NLD legitimately won an election in 1990 with more than 82 per cent of the vote. Its platform promised freedom and democracy for a people terrorised by a brutal military regime since 1962. The birthday celebrations were cries of hope against a regime that systematically tortures, rapes and enslaves ethnic groups. Egregious human rights abuses have been well documented by the UN, Amnesty International, International Labour Organisation, Human Rights Watch and the US Department of State. Demonstrations and ceremonies were organised across the globe, from Australia to East Timor, from Japan to Malaysia, across India and all of Europe, and in almost every major North American city. The first president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, wrote in the Washington Post: "As someone who years ago experienced first-hand the arbitrary rule of a dictatorial regime but then lived to see better times - to a large extent because of the solidarity extended to us - I appeal to all those who have the opportunity to act against such arbitrary acts to express their solidarity with people who to this day live in a state of 'unfreedom'." The wonderful Bishop Desmond Tutu has called on the world to make Burma the next South Africa. In Suu Kyi, "Burma would have a leader whose commitment to her people is unwavering. Asia and the world would have one of those rare leaders whose integrity and vision is already proven by her courage and sacrifice". He goes on to laud the West's unflinching role in applying political and economic pressure on the apartheid regime. The US leads the way in imposing the economic sanctions against the regime that Suu Kyi and her party ask of the world. The issue of extending import sanctions against Burma was only recently passed in the House of Representatives by 423 votes to two. It is an issue that unites Republicans and Democrats, and one in which Senators McConnell, Feinstein, McCain and Congressman Lantos have displayed stellar leadership. In Europe, to our shame, the question of sanctions is much less decisive. In October last year, the EU allowed a partial ban on investment in Burma, and bowing to French pressure, excluded investment in the oil and gas sector. France is keen to protect the interests of Total Oil, which has a 31.24 per cent interest in the Yadana gas project and is reported to provide up to $450 million annually to the Burmese regime. Given that the generals in Rangoon are mainly bankrolled by the protection money they get from allowing the world's second largest crop of opium safe passage out of the country, they welcome this contribution to their coffers. They then use it mainly on military spending. Over 60 per cent of the country's GNP is used in acquiring weaponry for a country that fights no external wars. It does, however, fight a war against its own people. And it has the largest child army in the world: 70,000 children are forced to bear arms. Oil, drugs and guns: surely such a heady mix deserves our close attention and condemnation? When Tony Blair assumes the presidency of the EU on Friday, one hopes he will make good on his promise to move Burma higher up on the EU agenda and push for tougher sanctions. So far he has been all talk: under his watch British imports from Burma have increased from £17.8 million to £74 million today. In the meantime, individual European nations should impose sanctions unilaterally, rather than wait until the EU finds a single voice. And there are other forums where pressure can be and is being applied. Last week in the UN Security Council, the US attempted to place Burmese political oppression on its agenda. The motion failed but, hopefully, the issue remains afloat in the council's ether. Even more significantly, all eyes turn to next month's meeting of Asean, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Burma is scheduled to chair the Asean in 2006. Its members have finally, publicly, expressed anxiety over the chairmanship, given that in the seven years of Burma's membership, it has not fulfilled its promise of democratic reforms, a condition for its entry in 1997. The "constructive engagement" the Southeast Asian nations hoped for has not materialised. The US Senate has urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to attend the Asean meeting and one hopes she will repeat to the southeast nations her birthday wishes for Suu Kyi: "The American people and I salute you on this special occasion, and reaffirm that the US stands with you and all others in your struggle to free the Burmese people." It is unclear how much Suu Kyi is aware of the worldwide missives of support. Her doctor is her only monthly visitor. The last time a UN envoy was allowed to travel to her heavily guarded house was 15 months ago. We do not even know if she still has her radio, her only link to the world we inhabit. It is only when these pledges of support translate into effective pressure on the malicious regime that the Lady will be able to assume her rightful position among her people and other leaders of the free world. The international community should consider, and act upon, the political expressions of support, crystallised in the message of 14 Nobel peace laureates ". . . all should join in urging the Burmese government to release immediately and unconditionally the nearly 1,500 political prisoners it holds, to end its brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing against the minority peoples of Burma and to begin a transition to genuine democracy". John Boorman has been campaigning on Burma since the massacre of democracy supporters in Rangoon in 1988, and made the film Beyond Rangoon in 1993. He is president of Burma Action Ireland. ~