EU

According to Mizzima News, several Burma campaign groups from 13 European countries have urged the EU to strengthen its policy of sanctions on Burma and to pressure the military junta to release all political prisoners.

Zoya Phan, International Coordinator of Burma Campaign UK, who attended a Burma Campaign Meeting in Barcelona over the weekend, said the group has called on the EU to strengthen its policies on Burma. “We will call on the EU to impose sanctions against the regime by initiating a global arms embargo, financial transaction and in gas and oil sectors,” Zoya Phan said on Monday.

The campaigners also urged the EU to exert more pressure on the Burmese military junta to release political prisoners including Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and to expedite political reforms and to improve the human rights situation in the country.

Back in January, the group urged the British government to investigate UK registered insurance companies to check whether they have committed financial crimes by bribing the Burmese military junta. Financial companies cited were Lloyd’s of London companies, QBE, Hannover Re, Sompo Japan, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, ACE Group, Labuan Re, OCBC Bank, Pana Harrison, Target Insurance Brokers and Al Wasl.

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Javier Solana, the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, issued the following statement last week condemning the presidential election run-off in Zimbabwe:

“Democracy has not been served by today’s run-off election. The people of Zimbabwe have been deprived of their right to vote freely and thus deprived of their dignity.

Under these circumstances, and with the threat to regional stability posed by the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, I trust that the relevant African authorities (the Southern African Development Community and the African Union) will draw the necessary conclusions, in the interests not only of Zimbabwe but of the whole of Africa. The outcome of this election cannot be regarded as legitimate.”

This is followed by press reports yesterday that the European Commission is ready to provide up to 250 million euros in development aid for Zimbabwe’s worst-hit sectors if the country gets a legitimate and credible government. According to a Reuters report, the European Commission is the most important aid donor to Zimbabwe and last year provided 91 million euros in humanitarian aid and other assistance.

This raises an interesting thought: While businesses are criticised for not leaving a country in turmoil, such as Zimbabwe, conversely companies capable of contributing to the economic growth of a country in crisis are never urged to state their intentions to return said country once conditions are returned to relative normalcy. While this is a given, particularly in resource rich states, this affirmative statement can and should be used as a weapon to effect change when other economic options have little utility.

Looking at Zimbabwe, if business interests align themselves with Morgan Tsvangirai, making commitments to capital investment in the “new” Zimbabwe, the added pressure on Mugabe would be immense. UK based companies have particular capacity to step up in this manner.  

Let’s hope that the EU and Briton, in particular, see the benefit of such positive action in the coming weeks.

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