It is imperative that human rights be given central consideration when EU foreign affairs ministers will discuss tomorrow the review of its policy towards Burma/Myanmar. Recent elections have brought no change to the widespread and systematic human rights violations in the country[:] Ms Hautala, chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, declared today.

“The new administration continues to detain around 2,200 political prisoners and trample upon freedom of speech and assembly. Despite these issues being raised by the international community repeatedly, the authorities from Rangoon remain unresponsive and during its Universal Periodic Review in the framework of the UN Human Rights Council even denied reports of these violations.

In the face of such disregard of universal human rights standards, the silence of the EU has been profoundly disappointing. Now, with the review of the Common Position, the EU leaders will have the opportunity to take a stand: it is time for the EU to fully support the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma/Myanmar, namely the establishment of an international Commission of Inquiry to investigate allegations of grave human rights crimes in Burma”, declared Chairwoman Hautala in the name of the Subcommittee on Human Rights.