Below an article published by Irrawaddy.

Well-known human rights activists and members of advocacy groups who gathered on Feb. 12-15 in Prague, Czech Public to discuss issues surrounding Burma. They called for the EU to maintain sanctions on Burma, increase humanitarian aid on the Thai-Burmese border and provide large scale financial support to civil society groups inside and outside Burma.

The European Burma Network (EBN), which is comprised of activists who work in solidarity with Burma’s democracy movement, said in a statement following the Prague conference that it was deeply concerned about the lack of any improvement in the human rights situation in Burma and the lack of any progress towards genuine democratization. 

After reviewing recent events affecting Burma's political landscape such as the adoption of the 2008 Constitution, the November election and the appointment of the new president, the EBN said that more international pressure is needed because Burma is not moving towards genuine democratization—and the EU should encourage dialogue between the stakeholders in Burma to push for progress.

“The EU must commit itself to doing all in its power to facilitate such dialogue, prioritizing the release of all political prisoners, and a nationwide ceasefire, as key benchmarks as part of the dialogue process,” said the EBN statement.

Opening remarks at the Prague conference were delivered by Karel Schwarzenberg, the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Václav Havel, the former President of the Czech Republic. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the ministries of foreign affairs of the European Union countries and representatives of European institutions. 

Zoya Phan, who is the international coordinator for London-based Burma Campaign UK and who attended the Prague conference, told The Irrawaddy that the conference was encouraging because Havel came in person and addressed the need for more international pressure on Burma. 

“The policy of the Czech Republic on Burma is very much appreciated. We hope that the rest of the EU nations will make better and stronger Burma policies,” she said.   
        
Zoya Phan also said that despite Burma's election of a new president and vice-presidents, including an ethnic Shan politician, there will be no democratic improvement in Burma because the new government is dominated and controlled by ex-Burmese generals. She said she hoped the Prague conference would help the debate over an EU common position on sanctions, which will be under discussion in April when it comes up for its annual renewal.
  
The EBN statement also said the November election in Burma had no credibility, that vote rigging in the election was widespread, and the 2008 Constitution only legitimated the Burmese dictatorship. In addition, it criticized the junta for its continued military attacks on ethnic groups and imprisonment of more than 2,100 political activists. 

The statement said abuses that have continued since the election include extrajudicial executions, rape, mass use of forced labor, use of human mine-sweepers, recruitment of child soldiers, land confiscation, forced displacement and military attacks against civilians. All of these types of abuses constitute possible war crimes and crimes against humanity, the statement said.

The EBN also called on the EU to maintain its sanctions on Burmese generals and their associates, and said it remains deeply concerned that the European Commission and other European donors are cutting assistance to more than 150,000 Burmese refugees— who are currently living in refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border—and still refusing to fund cross-border aid, which is the only way to reach many of the vulnerable people in ethnic areas where the dictatorship does not allow aid to be delivered.

All humanitarian aid to Burma should be increased, including aid to refugees and cross-border aid, the statement said. Also, human rights and democracy projects should be financed on a larger scale via genuine Burmese independent civil society groups based both inside Burma and along the borders with Thailand, India, Bangladesh and China.