European Parliament to recognize CR

[Nwe_Aung@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: European Parliament to recognize CRPP

EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT 
14 April 1999 
G:\DOC_SEAN\RC-99\B4-0375.99\en

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION ON BURMA

pursuant to Rule 47 of the Rules of Procedure by the following Members: 
- Colajanni, on behalf of the PSE Group 
- Maij-Weggen and Jarzembowski, on behalf of the PPE Group 
- Pasty and Van Bladel, on behalf of the UPE Group 
- Bertens, on behalf of the ELDR Group 
- Ripa dl Meana, Mohamed Alf and Sierra Gonzalez, on behalf of the GUE/NGL
Group 
- Telkaemper and McKenna, on behalf of the V Group 
- Dupuis, Dell'Alba, Leperre-Vorrier and Scarbonchi, on behalf of the ARE
Group


The European Parliament, having regard to its previous resolutions on
Burma, 

A. saddened by the death of Dr. Michael Aris, Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi's
husband, in the 
    United Kingdom, 
B. deploring the decision of the Burmese government not to grant an entry
visa for 
    humanitarian reasons to Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi's husband in order to
allow him 
    to visit his wife while he was seriously ill, 
C. noting the Council declaration expressing the condemnation of such an
inhumane 
     attitude displaying blantant disregard for fundamental human rights by
the State 
     Peace and Development Council (SPDC), 
D. deploring that political parties are prevented from functioning freely,
and that the 
     Secretary-General of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and Nobel
Peace 
     and Sakharov Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, effectively remains under
house arrest, 

E. deeply concerned at the continuing and extremely serious human rights
abuses 
     committed by the military authorities in Burma, especially the
violation of humanitarian 
     law by the Burmese army in ethnic minority areas, 
F. whereas the SPDC Army units and local authorities have recently ordered
the forced 
     relocation of KAREN villages, and the use of the villagers as forced
labour, 
G. condemning the recent arrests and forced resignations of hundreds of
elected 
     representatives and NLD members, 
H. whereas on 16 September 1998, 250 members of the People's Parliament
(54.6% 
     of the 485 parliamentarians mandated the NLD and representatives of
four parties 
     to form the Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP) to
act on behalf 
     of the entire parliament, which has never been permitted to convene, 
I.  stressing that Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly called on all
democratically elected 
    Parliamentarians world-wide to give due recognition to the Committee
and to support 
    its work, 
J. whereas the Danish Parliament and the Belgian Senate have already given
their support 
    to the CRPP, 
K. noting that the ASEAN-EU Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) has not met
for over a 
     year as a result of disagreement over the inclusion of Burma, 

1. Expresses its sincerest sympathy for Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi; 
2. Denounces the refusal by the Burmese authorities to grant an entry visa
to Dr. Michael Aris 
    as further proof of the attitude of the Burmese government regarding
fundamental human rights; 
3. Reiterates its condemnation of the military dictatorship in Burma and
all human rights 
    violations by the SPDC; 
4. Condemns the continued human rights abuses against ethnic groups within
Burma, the current 
    forced relocation of KAREN villages and the use of the villagers as
forced labour; 
5. Calls again on the Burmese Government to gurantee the fundamental rights
of the Burmese 
    people, to release all political prisoners and to allow freedom of
movement for Mrs Aung San 
    Suu Kyi; 
6. Reaffirms its opinion that the path leading Burma back to recognition as
part of the international 
    community and to a solution of the deep crisis in the country has to
start with a meaningful 
    political dialogue between the Burmese authorities, the democratic
opposition leaders and 
    representatives of ethnic minorities; 
7. Expresses its recognition and support for the CRPP and urges its
relevant committees to enter 
    into a constructive dialogue with Burma's elected parliamentarians; 
8. Reiterates its support of the Council decision not to accept the
participation of Burma at 
    EU-ASEAN and ASEM meetings until there are significant improvements in
human rights 
    and democracy in Burma; 
9. Calls on the Council to ensure that the current CFSP common position on
Burma is strictly 
    enforced, in particular with regard to the ban on entry visas and
moreover strongly calls on the 
    EU member states to refrain from giving transit visas to SPDC and
military personnel; 
10. Instructs its President to forward the present resolution to the

Commission, the Council, the 
      ASEAN, the CRPP and the government of Burma.

Reproduced by Nwe Aung / Burma Bureau Germany / 15 April 1999.