Burma (Hansard, 20 June 2000)

§ 30. Valerie Davey
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Burma. [125235]

§ Mr. Battle
We are deeply concerned at the lack of any prospects towards democratisation in Burma, as well as at the serious violations of human rights there. We are at the forefront of international action to press the military regime to improve the situation and to enter into dialogue with democratically elected Burmese leaders.

§ Ms Glenda Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will introduce investment sanctions against Burma. [126908]

§ Mr. Battle
There is no consensus within the European Union or the United Nations for investment sanctions at the moment, nor do we have any plans to introduce such measures. But we do discourage trade and investment in Burma by UK companies. In March, I met the Chief Executive of Premier Oil, and made clear to him our deep concern about their investment in Burma and that we would welcome their moving out as soon as and to the fullest extent that they lawfully can. We regularly give business inquiries a statement on the nature of the Burmese regime and the state of the economy.
The European Union has recently adopted a freeze on funds held by members of the Burmese regime. We will continue to press the regime in other fields too: for example the ILO has just agreed to adopt unprecedented measures against the regime in an effort to stop forced labour.