§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their latest analysis of the economic, social, political and human rights situation in Burma and what bilateral and multilateral policies they are consequently pursuing.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyWe remain concerned about the lack of progress in Burma. The ruling military regime, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), has made no substantive reforms to improve the political and human rights situation.
The political process remains far from democratic. Suppression of all opposition continues, including censorship, political arrests and detentions. Many remain in custody, notably Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whose detention without charge is indefensible. We continue to receive reports of human rights abuses, such as forced labour, military portering and involuntary displacement.
The SLORC have instituted some economic reforms, but the country remains desperately poor, in part due to the SLORC's economic management.
The policy we share with our European partners is one of critical dialogue. We make it clear to the SLORC that improvements in key areas, including human rights, political and economic reform, are prerequisites for the normalisation of relations with the European Union. We have pressed in particular for the early and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. We apply pressure both bilaterally and in relevant international fora. We suspended non-humanitarian official aid in 1988, imposed an arms embargo in 1991 and severed all remaining defence links in 1992.