Svenska Burmakommittén

I ett brev till svenska UD undrar vi om den svenska regeringen håller med om att det som skett i Rakhinestaten faller in i definitionerna för etnisk rensning och brott mot mänskligheten.

Human Rights Watch:s omtalade rapport ”All You Can Do is Pray“ dokumenterar grava människorättsbrott i Rakhinestaten i västra Burma. Dessa brott är så pass allvarliga att Human Rights Watch (HRW) anser att de utgör etnisk rensning och brott mot mänskligheten. Rapporten beskriver hur burmesiska regeringsföreträdare, lokala myndigheter och ledare uppmuntrat arakaneser och säkerhetsstyrkor att attackera muslimska byar i oktober 2012. De har varit delaktiga i att tvångsförflytta fler än 125 000 personer från folkgrupperna rohingya och kaman i Rakhinestaten.

Nu, när den av Burmas regering tillsatta utredningskommissionen, har publicerat sin egen rapport om händelserna i Rakhinestaten är det tydligt att det inte finns några seriösa försök från den burmesiska regeringen att skipa rättvisa och utkräva ansvar.

Svenska Burmakommittén har som avsikt att söka stöd för en opartisk internationell utredning om vad som hänt i Rakhinestaten, och vi vill försäkra oss om att den svenska regeringen i princip skulle stödja en sådan utredning.

Debattartikel med Svenska Burmakommittén, Svenska Amnesty, Svenska freds- och skiljedomsföreningen, Fonden för mänskliga rättigheter, och Olof Palmes Internationella Center på SvD Brännpunkt den 22 April 2013.

I dag väntas EU lyfta sanktionerna mot Burma, vapenembargot undantaget, och därmed påbörja ett nytt historiskt kapitel i sitt förhållande till landet, som bygger på dialog. I denna dialog måste EU tala klarspråk om att omvärlden inte blundar för allvarliga människorättsbrott som fortsatt begås i Burma.

SVENSKA BURMAKOMMITTÉN

CIVIL RIGHTS DEFENDERS

PRESSMEDDELANDE

Den 22 april omförhandlar EU sanktionerna mot Burma. Att permanent häva sanktionerna är alltför tidigt, anser Svenska Burmakommittén och Civil Rights Defenders. De båda organisationerna uppmanar EU att ta förhandlingen på allvar och genuint engagera sig i den demokratiska utvecklingen i Burma.

- Internationella aktörer är ense om att dialog med Burma är att föredra framför isolering, säger Brittis Edman, Sydostasienchef på Civil Rights Defenders. I den dialogen måste EU tala klarspråk om att omvärlden inte blundar för allvarliga brott mot de mänskliga rättigheterna. EU bör enas om en varsam balansgång mellan belöningar och påtryckningar i sin hållning mot Burma.

I april 2012 valde EU att frysa sanktionerna mot Burma, vapenembargot undantaget, till följd av det reformarbete mot demokratisering som Burmas regering inlett.  EU presenterade också ett antal riktmärken som man ansåg måste uppfyllas för att häva sanktionerna permanent.

När nu EU:s utrikesministrar samlas för att omförhandla sanktionerna tycks det som att beslutet att häva sanktionerna redan fattats, utan att någon hänsyn tagits till att utvecklingen mot vissa riktmärken gått åt fel håll. I april 2012 ställde EU som krav att livssituationen för den etniska minoritetsgruppen rohingya skulle förbättras. Sedan dess har vi sett utbredda våldsamheter i västra Burma och förföljelser av rohingya.  Under senaste året har hundratals människor dödats och fler än hundratusen rohingya bor i internflyktingläger. Rapporter gör gällande att myndigheter på både central och delstatsnivå begränsar tillträdet för humanitär hjälp till dessa läger, och en humanitär kris håller på att fördjupas.

Anti-muslimska våldsamheter har spritt sig långt utanför Rakhinedelstaten, men myndigheterna har inte infört tillräckliga åtgärder för att få slut på våldet.

EU:s så kallade rådsslutsatser från april 2012 uppmanade till ett slut på Burmas konflikter. I delstaten Kachin tilltog dock kriget vid årsskiftet.  Burmas armé har använt sig av stridsflyg mot civila mål, och det har kommit uppgifter om dödande, tortyr och sexuellt våld mot civila. Från Kachindelstaten kommer också rapporter om begränsningar av humanitär hjälp till de internflyktingläger där tiotusentals människor söker skydd undan stridigheter mellan den burmesiska armén och Kachin Independence Army.

- Att lyfta på sanktionerna just i det här läget vore ansvarslöst av EU, säger Jerker Ekvall, ordförande för Svenska Burmakommittén. Att EU bortser från sina egna krav undergräver den egna trovärdigheten och signalerar till Burmas makthavare att de kan ignorera de mänskliga rättigheterna.
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För mer information, kontakta:

Shantana Shahid, informationsansvarig Svenska Burmakommittén: +46 720 40 43 30, shantana.shahid@burmakommitten.org

Statement from Members of the European Burma Network

Tuesday 26^th March 2013

The European Union is currently reviewing its policy on sanctions on Burma. On 22^nd April the EU Foreign Affairs Council will decide whether to continue the suspension of EU sanctions, or to lift sanctions. We are concerned that the premature lifting of European Union sanctions will undermine the reform process in Burma, and could even encourage further serious human rights abuses.

There is no doubt that there have been dramatic changes in Burma in the past two years, and that there is opportunity for further change which must be encouraged. However, we believe that European Union members have a tendency to highlight the positives while ignoring some important and harsh realities on the ground.

Burma’s generals did not suddenly wake up one morning and decide they wanted Burma to be a democracy. International pressure has clearly played a motivating role in the reforms currently taking place. Therefore, to relax too much pressure too soon risks reducing the motivation for further reform. A careful balance needs to be struck between continued pressure and encouragement. The European Union is not getting that balance right.

When suspending sanctions on 26th April 2012, the European Union made clear the progress it expected to see in response, stating in the Council Conclusions:

“…the EU still expects the unconditional release of remaining political prisoners and the removal of all restrictions placed on those already released. It looks forward to the end of conflict and to substantially improved access for humanitarian assistance, in particular for those affected by conflict in Kachin State and along the Eastern border, as well as to addressing the status and improving the welfare of the Rohingyas.”

At the current time none of these benchmarks has been met.

Hundreds of political prisoners remain in jail and the vast majority of those who have been released have only been released conditionally. Following his visit to Burma in February 2013, the UN Special Rapporteur not only highlighted the on-going detention of political prisoners, but also the increasing reports of the use of torture against some detainees.

Conflict in the country has not ended. In fact, in December conflict increased when the Burmese Army launched a big military offensive in Kachin State. During this offensive shells were fired into the predominantly civilian town of Laiza, killing civilians including children. Acts such as this can qualify as war crimes. While conflict has temporarily reduced now, this is only because the military offensive had achieved its goals.

Humanitarian access cannot be said to have substantially improved. As the 2012 United Nations General Assembly resolution on Burma stated just three months ago, restrictions on humanitarian access violate international law.

In Kachin State there have only been a handful of occasions when convoys delivering aid have been allowed to enter areas under the control of the Kachin Independence Organisation, where most of the IDPs live in temporary shelters. Repeated promises of improved access have been broken or only resulted in one-off visits or convoys.

During the past year new restrictions were introduced in Rakhine State, and while there has been some improvement in access to camps for internally displaced people, restrictions are still in place, resulting in appalling conditions, leading to UN humanitarian coordinator Valerie Amos stating after visiting one camp:  “I have seen many camps during my time as the ERC but the conditions in this camp rank among the worst.”

The final benchmark referred to in the Council Conclusions was “addressing the status and improving the welfare of the Rohingyas.” This benchmark has clearly not been met, and in fact the status and welfare of the Rohingya has dramatically worsened in the past year following communal conflict, which later evolved into systematic attacks against the Rohingya. The government of Burma has not only failed to provide safety and security for the Rohingya, it has also encouraged those committing acts of violence by validating their prejudice. Government ministers have spoken of the Rohingya being foreigners and President Thein Sein has asked for international assistance in deporting all Rohingya to third countries. During his visit to Europe, President Thein Sein said he has ‘no plans’ to revise the 1982 Citizenship Law, stating ‘the law intends to protect the nation’. No significant efforts are being made to try to enable Rohingya displaced by attacks to return to their homes and villages and a policy of effective apartheid seems to be developing. Therefore, the benchmark of addressing the status and welfare of the Rohingyas has not been met.

Given that none of these four benchmarks has been met, to move from suspending to lifting EU sanctions would be premature, and also undermine the credibility of the European Union.

Burma remains a country ruled by a military-backed government, and still has one of the worst human rights records in the world. The European Union should continue the suspension of EU sanctions until its own benchmarks are met and there are legal and constitutional reforms which make Burma democratic. Policy must be based on the facts on the ground, not promises which have yet to be delivered.

Actions Birmanie

Association Suisse-Birmanie

Austrian Burma Center

Azione Birmania (Italy)

Burma Action Ireland

Burma Aktion Germany

Burma Campaign UK

Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK

Christian Solidarity Worldwide

European Karen Network

Info Birmanie

Polish Burma Solidarity

Society for Threatened Peoples

Swedish Burma Committee

Swedish Social Democratic Students Burma Project

Inför genomgången av EU:s gemensamma ståndpunkt om Burma i april har vi i ett brev till Carl Bildt och svenska tjänstemän uppmanat till en fortsatt suspendering av sanktionerna.

Att lyfta sanktionerna riskerar att ta bort ett verkningsfullt påtryckningsmedel under det att reformprocessen utvecklas. Människorättskräkningar pågår alltjämt och trycket på Burmas regering att få ett slut på dem måste fortsätta. Svenska Burmakommittén anser att EU bör enas om en varsam balansgång mellan belöningar och påtryckningar.

När EU suspenderade sanktionerna i april 2012 förväntade man sig följande motprestationer, enligt de så kallade rådsslutsatserna:

”… att kvarvarande politiska fångar ovillkorligen släpps och att alla restriktioner tas bort på före detta politiska fångar. (EU) ser fram emot att konflikter upphör och att tillträde till humanitär hjälp avsevärt förbättras, i synnerhet för de konfliktdrabbade i delstaten Kachin och längs den östra gränsen, samt att rohingyafolkets status adresseras och att deras livssituation förbättras.”

På ett år har de burmesiska myndigheterna inte lyckats på någon punkt.

Mot denna bakgrund anser SBK att det vore förhastat av EU att lyfta sanktionerna, och att EU skulle undergräva den egna trovärdigheten genom att ignorera rådsslutsatserna. 

Inför Burmas president Thein Seins och utrikesminister Wunna Maung Lwins möte med Europaparlamentets utrikesutskott i Bryssel den 5 mars 2013 mejlade SBK de EU-parlamentarikerna Alf Svensson (KD), Anna Ibrisagic (M), Göran Färm (S) och Åsa Westlund (S). Bl. a. vädjade vi våra svenska ledamöter att

• förmå president Thein Sein att tillåta humanitär hjälp till alla delar av Rakhinestaten, verka för tolerans och ge rohingyafolket medborgerliga rättigheter. Våld mot civila måste upphöra i alla dess former och förövare bringas inför rätta.

• verka för att EU kräver att kriget i Kachinstaten liksom grava MR-brott i Burma upphör och att humanitärt tillträde ges till alla delar av Kachinstaten. Vidare måste EU fortsätta uppmana Burmas regering att inleda de politiska dialoger som etniska grupper efterfrågat i årtionden.

• verka för att EU inte går med på att Burma nedgraderas i UNHRC:s dagordning. 

• EU mäter reformerna i Burma reformerna utifrån tydliga riktmärken och indikatorer inför genomgången av EU:s gemensamma ståndpunkt i april. Dessa måste innefatta mötesfrihet, organisationsfrihet och yttrandefrihet

Åsa Westlund använde vårt underlag till att ställa en fråga till EU-kommissionen om hur kommissionen adresserar flera av de ovannämnda problemen.

• Thein Sein har varit del av den förra diktatorn Than Shwes inre krets sedan Than Shwe tog makten 1992. När regimen i 1997 ändrade skepnad till SPDC befordrades Thein Sein. Alltså har han haft en ledande ställning i en brutal militärdiktatur i mer än 15 år.
• General Thein Sein utpekades redan 1998 av FN för människorättsbrott. Som befälhavare i nordöstra Burma beordrade han soldater att tvinga ut lokalbefolkningen för att kunna bygga en militärbas på den beslagtagna marken. Byborna användes sedan av militären som tvångsarbetare.
• Runt 170 våldtäkter begångna av militären i Shanstaten mellan åren 1996-2001 har dokumenterats, samma år som General Thein Sein var befälhavare i området. (45 av dessa våldtäkter rapporteras ha begåtts av soldater under Thein Seins befäl i Triangle Regional Command.)
• Thein Sein var premiärminister när cyklon Nargis inträffade. Burmas regim vägrade släppa in internationell humanitär hjälp; minst 130 000 personer dog till följd av katastrofen.
• Thein Sein var ordförande för det konvent som skrev Burmas nuvarande konstitution och som avfärdade etniska gruppers önskemål om icke-diskriminering. Konstitutionen ger militären straffimmunitet för begångna brott och röstades igenom i en riggad folkomröstning efter cyklon Nargis.
• Thein Sein har öppet spätt på hatet mot Burmas statslösa och gravt diskriminerade rohingyabefolkning och har bett FN omplacera dem.

Media Release from members of the European Burma Network

For Immediate Release 20^th February 2013

Members of the European Burma Network today called on Germany to come clean over whether it is working behind the scenes to have Burma downgraded as a priority for the United Nations Human Rights Council. The European Burma Network which brings together advocacy organisations working for human rights and democracy in Burma.

Discussions have been taking place within the European Union on whether Burma should continue to be listed under Item 4; ‘Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention’, or changed to Item 10, ‘Technical assistance and capacity building.’ Germany is understood to be privately supporting moving Burma to Item 10.

This is despite the fact that the country still has one of the worst human rights records in the world, and that in the past two years human rights abuses of the kind that could be considered war crimes and crimes against humanity actually increased. Burma is not a democracy, it remains ruled by a military-backed government, and almost all repressive laws remain in place.

In his statement on 16th February 2013 at the end of his visit to Burma, the UN Special Rapporteur stated; “…there are significant human rights shortcomings that remain unaddressed…” The Special Rapporteur also highlighted continuing use of torture in Burma’s jails.

The 2012 UN General Assembly Resolution on Burma stated: “Expresses concern about remaining human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, forced displacement, land confiscations, rape and other forms of sexual violence, and torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as well as violations of international humanitarian law, and urges the Government of Myanmar to step up its efforts to put an end to such violations.”

Downgrading Burma from Item 4 to Item 10 would be a major diplomatic coup for the government of Burma.

Writing to German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, the letter states: ‘Germany has a long track record within the European Union of opposing international pressure against the government of Burma to promote human rights and democracy. Germany consistently worked to either attempt to block increased pressure, or to push for relaxing pressure. Germany uses the confidentiality of internal European Union meetings and processes to hide its actions from the German and European public.’

‘It appears that your government is again using this tactic to avoid having to justify publicly your position on the issue of Burma at the Human Rights Council. We know from experience that you are likely to reject any accusation that your government is not concerned about human rights in Burma. Therefore, to avoid any misunderstanding, we request that you clarify publicly the position of your government on whether you believe that Burma should remain as an Item 4 on the UN Human Rights Council, and whether Germany supports maintaining the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur.’

The letter was sent from the following European Burma Network members:

Actions Birmanie (Belgium)

Association Suisse-Birmanie

Austrian Burma Center

Burma Aktion (Germany)

Azione Birmania (Italy)

Burma Action Ireland

Burma Campaign UK

Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK

Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Info Birmanie (France)

Swedish Burma Committee

Läs ett sammandrag från vårt seminarium om  konfliktsituationen i sydöstra Burma, internflyktingar och flyktingar längs gränsen till Thailand här.

Seminariet genomfördes som en del av årets informationskampanj “Burma i förändring.”

21st January 2013

We, the undersigned members and observers of the European Burma Network, condemn the ongoing attacks on the Kachin people and call on the international community to put pressure on President Thein Sein and the Burmese Army to immediately end the military offensive in Northern Burma and allow access to humanitarian aid for internally displaced persons.

Intense attacks against the Kachin have continued despite the government’s announcement on Friday last of an end to the attacks.

Since late December, the Burmese Army intensified its attacks against the Kachin people, employing helicopters and fighter jets to launch a series of air strikes around Laiza, the town near the China-Burma border where the the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) headquarters is located. On Monday last, three civilians including a child were killed and four others injured when, for the first time, the Burmese Army directly bombarded the town of Laiza with rocket shells. Laiza is home to 6,000 civilians and in addition, 14,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) are sheltering in camps in and around Laiza.

The Burmese Army has been launching military offensives in Kachin State since June 2011, when it ended the 17-year long ceasefire agreement with the KIO. Since then, attacks on the Kachin people have been relentless, resulting in about 100,000 internally displaced persons, including around 75,000 in KIO-controlled areas where international aid is being blocked by President Thein Sein, resulting in hunger and disease. Burmese Army soldiers have committed horrific human rights violations against civilians which may be considered war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law. In his report to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2012, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Burma, Mr. Tomás Ojea Quintana stated that he is ‘particularly concerned at continuing serious human rights violations in conflict-affected ethnic border areas, which include attacks against civilian populations, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, internal displacement, land confiscations, the recruitment of child soldiers, forced labour and portering, and the use of landmines.’

The 17-year long ceasefire saw a fragile peace in Kachin State; however, it did not resolve the root problems, namely the lack of democracy and equality for the Kachin people and it did not lead to a meaningful political dialogue.

We call on the international community, including the United Nations and the European Union, to take a strong stance in persuading President Thein Sein to end the violence against the Kachin people and allow unrestricted access to humanitarian aid in the affected areas.

Furthermore, we call on the European Union to take the following measures:

1) That no further sanctions should be relaxed;

2) In relation to the upcoming review of the EU Common Decision, that a visa ban be re-introduced which includes all senior members of the Burmese military, all government ministers who are serving members of the military, and all MPs who are serving members of the military;

3) That the other measures in the EU Common Position which are currently suspended continue to be suspended for a further year;

4) That EU members withdraw invitations to President Thein Sein to visit their countries;

5) That funding and other forms of support for government capacity building be suspended;

6) That mechanisms for monitoring implementation of the arms embargo be reviewed, with penalties for member states involved in violations of the arms embargo;

7) That the European Union and member states should provide financial assistance to locally based community NGOs in KIO-controlled areas in order to reach the tens of thousands of IDPs denied aid because free access to provide international aid is being blocked by President Thein Sein.

Endorsed by:

Actions Birmanie (Belgium)

Association Suisse Birmanie

Austrian Burma Center

Burma Aktion (Germany)

Burma Action Ireland

Burma Campaign UK

Burma Partnership

Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK

Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Denmark Karen Organisation

European Karen Network

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

Info Birmanie (France)

Norwegian Burma Committee

Society for Threatened Peoples – Germany

Swedish Burma Committee

SDS – Swedish Social Democratic Students´ Burma Project