§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider the confidence-building dialogue between the State Peace and Development Council in Burma and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy to have stalled; if so, whether their policy will toughen in line with the statement in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's country profile of Burma; and what form a tougher policy towards Burma would take. [HL347]
§ Baroness AmosThe UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Burma, Razali Ismail, expressed his disappointment at the pace of progress after he visited Burma on 12–16 November. He expressed disappointment with the political process which had not been "maximised or developed". We agree with this assessment.
If real political progress is to take place in Burma, Senior General Than Shwe must increase his contacts with Aung San Suu Kyi and move the discussions on from confidence building to substantive issues.
UK policy will remain firm until Burma irreversibly commits to national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to combat Burma's status as one of the largest producers in the world of opium for illicit consumption and as a major supplier of methamphetamines. [HL351]
§ Baroness AmosWe monitor the trade in Burma carefully through a drugs liaison officer based in Bangkok. The majority of opium and methamphetamine produced in Burma is trafficked within Asia and to Australia.
We try to bring pressure to bear on the Burmese regime to improve their record on drugs. The European Council conclusions of 21 October on Burma included urging "the authorities to take vigorous action to combat the production and trafficking of drugs". UK law enforcement agencies co-operate with their counterparts in South-East Asia in specific criminal investigations.
About 90 per cent of the UK's heroin originates in Afghanistan. Synthetic drugs (including methamphetamine) consumed in the UK are mostly produced in Europe.