Apr 25, 2008

Burma: EU Parliament Wants More Myanmar Sanctions


Sample ImageIn a decision to be considered by EU foreign ministers next week, Members of the European Parliament have voted to increase sanctions against Myanmar.

Below is an article published by Thomson Financial News:

The European parliament has called for EU sanctions against Myanmar to be increased to include an embargo on commodity imports, thereby threatening the regime's key oil revenues.

The MEPs, whose opinion is not binding, also voted almost unanimously in favour of restrictions to access to international banking services for military-owned companies, conglomerates and businesses linked to the military.

The parliament, meeting in Strasbourg, called too for restrictions for junta generals and their families to 'access to personal business opportunities, health care, shopping, and foreign education for their children.'

The European Union's current sanctions against Myanmar leaders, adopted last November, include an embargo on the import of timber, gems and metals from Myanmar. It also extended the list of Myanmar leaders and their relatives subject to a travel ban and assets freeze.

However the current EU measures do not touch the energy sector, leaving companies like French group Total free to operate in Myanmar.

The European deputies called for a new embargo on trade in key commodities that provide significant revenue to the military government.'

They also urged the EU to review its sanctions against specific human rights benchmarks, including the release of political prisoners and an accurate count of those 'killed, arrested, and detained by the security forces.'

EU foreign ministers are to debate the measures against Myanmar at a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday and Tuesday, and could choose to broaden them.