For Democracy & Human Rights

CHRISTIAN SOLIDARITY WORLDWIDE

For immediate release, October 5 2004

CSW URGES EU TO STEP UP PRESSURE ON BURMESE REGIME AT FORTHCOMING ASIA-EUROPE MEETING AS ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS CONTINUE

Less than a week before European Union leaders meet Asian leaders at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Hanoi, CSW has received fresh reports of attacks by the Burma Army against Karen and Karenni ethnic nationals.

On September 28, Burma Army troops attacked villages and internally displaced people in southern Karen State and southern Karenni State. Two schools, a clinic and many homes were burned down. The number of casualties is not yet known.

Relief teams are now approaching these areas to provide assistance to the victims of these attacks. According to CSW's source, "the people in hiding need immediate medical care, food, and shelter. Most of all they need security and safety from further attacks."

Burma's ruling junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), is currently engaged in ceasefire talks with the Karen National Union (KNU). Despite this, Burma Army Battalion 262, led by Commander Aung Kyaw Oo, attacked Nah Ka Praw (Hsaw K'daw Hta) village in Mergui- Tavoy district, Karen State, Burma, to the west of Chumpon, Thailand, at 5.30am. They burned down homes in the village, including the clinic and the school and chased the villagers, who were already internally displaced peoples, as they fled into the jungle. Later that day there were clashes between the Burma Army and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA).

On the same day, at about 2pm, Burma Army SPDC Light Infantry Battalion LIB No 428 led by Colonel Win Zaw attacked the Karenni Army and civilians in the vicinity of Nu Thu Hta village in Mae Chie district, southern Karenni state. After attacking the Karenni Army and killing one and wounding one Karenni soldier, the Burma Army entered and burned down Nu Thu Hta village and arrested one villager named Kaloo Pah without reason. After burning the village the Burma Army unit laid 18 land mines around the village. The villagers fled up into the mountains and are now in hiding.

CSW is calling on the EU to deliver a strong statement to Burma at the ASEM meeting in Hanoi, from October 8-11. CSW also urges the EU to strengthen its Common Position on Burma, in light of Burma's failure to meet the three conditions set out by the EU for Burma's participation at ASEM. In particular, CSW calls on the EU to ensure that the proposed prohibition of EU-registered companies from providing Burmese State-owned enterprises with finances, will include a ban on investment.

CSW's Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, said: "These fresh attacks on Karen and Karenni, coming just as peace talks are taking place with both ethnic groups, casts further doubt on the junta's sincerity. As EU leaders prepare to sit down with members of Burma's illegal regime in Hanoi, we urge them to raise the plight of the ethnic groups, including these latest attacks, with Burma and other Asian nations, and to use the Hanoi meeting to find ways of moving Burma towards democracy and respect for human rights."

For more information, please contact Richard Chilvers, Communications Manager, CSW at richard.chilvers@csw.org.uk or ring 020 8329 0045 or visit www.csw.org.uk

CSW is a human rights charity working on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs. We also promote religious liberty for all.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The EU set three conditions for Burma's participation in ASEM, namely: the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin U, the re-opening of all National League for Democracy (NLD) offices, and the free participation of the NLD and other democratic groups in the National Convention. Burma's junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has manifestly failed on all three counts.

As a compromise, the EU has announced that if its three conditions are still not met by the time of the ASEM Summit, the EU will tighten existing measures against the Burmese regime under the Common Position. Specifically, the visa ban will be extended to include serving members of the military of the rank of Brigadier-General and above and members of their families; EU-registered companies or organisations will be prohibited from making finances, such as loans and equities, available to Burmese State-Owned Enterprises; and the EU will vote against extending loans to Burma from international financial institutions.

While CSW welcomes these measures, it is essential that they are clarified. In particular, we would urge the EU to make it clear that in the prohibition of financial support by EU-registered companies to Burmese State-owned enterprises, "equities" is interpreted as an investment ban and "EU-registered companies" is interpreted as widely as possible, to include subsidiaries and citizens. "Named Burmese State-owned enterprises" must include all State-owned enterprises. There may be some in the EU who would wish to exclude Myanmar Oil & Gas Enterprise (MOGE), because the French company Total Oil is in a joint venture with this organisation. MOGE is an entirely State-owned enterprise, and is part of the Ministry of Energy. The Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings (UMEH) and the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) must also be included on this list for the prohibition of financing from EU-registered companies.

It is also essential that the EU take a clear position at ASEM regarding the chairmanship of ASEAN. Burma is currently due to take up the ASEAN chairmanship in 2006. The EU should state clearly next week that if Burma has not made significant progress towards democracy and human rights, including releasing Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, the EU will not participate in summits with ASEAN under Burma's chairmanship. ASEAN should be urged to suspend Burma if the situation does not improve.

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