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E.U.'s Policy Toward Burma / German
EUROPEAN UNION
THE COUNCIL COMMON POSITION
of 28 - 10 - 1997
I would like to add a few notes/thoughts on this document in regard to the
position of the German Government (GG). From my point of view the GG is not
intending to harm SPDC or its own economic involvement in Burma. Right now the
German Government is increasing its involvement in the region and without any
doubt will hamper any attempt inside the EU to actively create a climate for
change in Burma. To my own knowledge there is no German official attending any
meetings of NGOs or is using the excisting influence in Thailand or Burma to
stop the violations of human rights. Without an active public integration of
Germany as a country in the discourse about Burma and human rights the EU policy
will stay what it is : Paper tiger without teeth ... It would be interesting to
ask the representative of the EU in Thailand on this subject ...
The following quotations are basic background information on what the GG is
willing to do or not. In principle it is true that any sanction/discussion of
inside the European Union will fail because there is the strong opposition of
German companies.
According to the german Administrative Law we are unable to get information on
German comapnies and their investment inside Myanmar/Burma. In case anybody has
reliable information on that subject please contact
antipolitik.wolf@xxxxxxxxxxx
On October 28, 1997, the Foreign Minister made the following announcement in
parliament:
(Quote own translation)
Declaration Kinkel (German Foreign Minister) in regard to the violent measures
of the ruling junta of Myanmar against ASSK
.... In July this year Myanmar became a member of ASEAN. This decision was
within the ASAEN member group and the EU, which is in a close working
relationship with ASEAN, not undisputed. Rightly there was cause for concern,
that the political leadership in Myanmar wanted to misuse the membership in
order to become internationally accepted. The German Government, (!) who
appreciates the membership postively (!), takes the view, that the international
community of states has to use the membership of Rangoon to create an
enviroment which leads towards an improvement of the situation of human rights,
towards an end of repression of the opposition and the ethnic minorities ....
In December 1996 the German Foreign Minister answered to a parlamentarian
question of the German Green Party in regard to human rights and the 'Visit
Myanmar' campaign ...
question 1: ... According to the knowledge of the German Government who else
apart from Condor and Neckermann is offering tourist tours to Burma?
Answer1: The German Government (GG) has no knowledge about this subject
q2: ... Is there a recommadation of the German tourist industry not to visit
Burma as long as violations of human rights are still going on?
a2: The GG has not knowledge about such a recommadation ...
a3: According to the GG it is absolutly up to the industry to offer such tours
a4: see a3
a5: see a3
q 11: Is the GG considering economic sanctions against the ruling SLORC in
Burma in order to end the violation of human rights in the country?
a11: The GG does not consider economic sanctions as a constructive tool to
influence the policy of SLORC towards democracy or improvementt of human
rights. Myanmar is one of the pooreest countries in the world. Economic
sanctions would only hurt the poorer sections of the population without
influencing the ruling Government.
q12: Is the GG considering to take similar action like the USA or the EU ?
a12: Quote of the statement of the EUC of 28/10/1996/compare statement
28/10/1997 without naming the concern about the abuses of human rights
q13: Is the GG considering to use its influence inside the EU to pressure the
EUC for economic sanctions in order to support the ASSK?
a13: see a12
q14: Will the GG support the depreviation of the Generalised Sytem of
Preference (GSP) inside the EU in order to improve the situation of human rights
in Burma?
a14: ... Right now the European Commision is investigating whether Myanmar is
actually infringing the above quoted decree 3281/94. As soon as the Commision
will publish its findings the GG will examine the findings carefully and might
consider a possible deprevation.
q15: To the knowledge of the GG which German companies maintain business
ralations to Myanmar?
a15: The GG has no knowledge about the involvemnt of German comapnies and their
projects. As far as it has knowledge it is unable to provide any information
according to § 30 administrative law.
q16: Which projects are undertaken by German companies in Burma ?
a16: see a15
q17: Is the GG supporting the notion of economic sanctions towards these
comapnies ?
a17: According to the oppinion of the GG it is basically the decision of the
comapnies in question whether they invest in the country or not.
q23: What is the relationship between the GG and the NCGUB?
a23: The Federal Republic of Germany maintains diplomatic realtions with the
Union of Myanmar
____________________________________________________________________________
Die Macht des Geistes und die Macht des Staaates
sind miteinader unvereinbar.
Gyoergy Konrad 'Antipolitk' (1985/203)