WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3957/97 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Commission. Human rights in Burma
16. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 187/101 (98/C 187/152) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3957/97 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission (12 December 1997) Subject: Human rights in Burma The Netherlands Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Van Mierlo, informed the Netherlands Lower Chamber that he intended to request consideration at EU level of the judgment on 15 August by which the Burmese trade union executive member Mr U Myo Aung Thant was condemned to life imprisonment for smuggling explosives. In the same trial three further Burmese human rights activists were condemned to 10 year terms in prison. These judgments were handed down after a trial behind closed doors. Has the Commission already received the request from the Netherlands Minister and what can and will the Commission undertake with regard to these judgments which, according to human rights organizations and the International Association of Trade Unions, are based on faulty evidence and a dishonest trial? What is the Commissionís view in general on the human rights situation in Burma? Does it consider that the situation is deteriorating? Answer given by Mr Mar ·n on behalf of the Commission (23 January 1998) The Commission is not yet cognizant of the letter mentioned by the Honourable Member. It will in any event be for the Member State concerned to raise this matter as part of the CSFP consultations which are usually held in cases of this kind. The Commission has raised individual cases or lists of prisoners of conscience on appropriate occasions with various governments. This is also done, on a regular basis, by the Member States whenever high-level contacts with the governments in question allow for this. There are no high-level contacts with the Burmese junta formerly known as State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) which would allow the Union to have a substantial dialogue with Burma. Several attempts by the Union to enter into a critical dialogue with Burma have failed so far because of the absence of willingness on the Burmese side to have such a dialogue. A common position on this subject was adopted by the Council on 23 October 1996 forbidding any political contact with the SLORC. The common position has twice been extended for a period of six months. The possibilities for raising the issue of prisoners of conscience are therefore limited to declarations or de·marches by the Union, as well as to the ongoing work of the United Nations (UN) human rights commission and the general assembly where the Commission regularly gives full support to the initiatives taken to denounce human rights violations in Burma and to request improvement of the human rights situation in general. The Commission will of course bear in mind the case brought to its attention by the Honourable Member and will be most happy to use the first opportunity it has to draw specific attention to the case of U Myo Aung Thant. Regarding the overall situation in Burma, the Commission shares the view of the UN special rapporteur that despite a few positive signs the overall situation in Burma has not improved. This absence of progress remains of grave concern to the Commission. (98/C 187/153) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3960/97 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) and Rijk van Dam (I-EDN) to the Commission Subject: Law on freedom of religion in Belarus (12 December 1997) Is the Commission aware that the government of Belarus has published a proposal for a law amending the current law on freedom of religion which runs the risk of placing far-reaching restrictions on the freedom of religion, worship and religious professions?