The European Union should back UN inquiry on Burma

By European Trade Union Confederation • August 2, 2011

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) today called on the EU and its Member States to press for a United Nations Commission of Inquiry (COI) to be set up to investigate serious on-going human rights violations in Burma/Myanmar.

Writing to Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy who is conducting discussions with EU countries about their position on Burma to be advanced at the 21st UN General Assembly, ETUC General Secretary, Bernadette Ségol, urged her to to support the recommendation of the United Nations Special Rapporteur for a COI into human rights abuses in Burma/Myanmar. That call has been backed by the leader of Burma’s democracy movement, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Bernadette Ségol added: “Some EU countries have been reluctant to support the establishment of such a UN Commission, hoping that a peaceful transition to peace and democracy would follow the elections last year. But the elections were not free, fair or inclusive, and have done nothing to change the situation in the country. Human rights abuses continue unabated. The military has targeted several ethnic communities and has subjected the inhabitants to serious human rights violations, such as extrajudicial killing, torture and rape, in addition to forced labour that continues unabated. The EU should now take a tough stand against the regime.”

Download the letter to Catherine Ashton here.

Tags: Commission of Inquiry, EU, European Trade Union Confederation

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The European Union should back UN inquiry on Burma

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