EU poised to Rap Burma for Human Ri

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Subject: EU poised to Rap Burma for Human Rights: GSP news

EU Poised to Rap Burma for Human Rights (From FBC)
17.3.97/The Nation
AFP

BRUSSELS - The European Union will debate this week whether to
strip Burma of its low-tariff access to European consumers over
its use of forced labour, but the southeast Asian nation's fate
is practically sealed, EU officials said.

It seems "likely" that the move to expel Burma from the EU's
Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) will be approved without
discussion by ambassadors form the 15 EU states, a European
Commission source said.

"The only problem could come from Britain, which has a policy of
not linking trade and labour issues," he said. British officials
however said London would not oppose the move.

"Wednesday's decision, which would hit both agricultural and
industrial goods imported form Burma to the EU, will then go to
EU foreign ministers for formal approval on March 24.

The European Commission called for an end to GSP privileges for
Burma in Feburary, following testimonies by 42 organisations to
the widespread use of forced or child labour in the country.

"The Commission asked to go to Burma to discuss this with the
government" but its request was turned down," said Gwynn Morgan,
who heads the Southeast Asian section of the European Commission.

The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
(ICFTU)estimates that 800,000 Burmese are currently involved in
various forms of forced labour, accounting for 10 percent of the
country's output.

If the GSP on longer applies to Burmese exports to the EU,
Rangoon will find itself having to pay 2.262 million ECU (Bt70
million ) more in customs duties this year, according to EU
estimates.

According to the European Commission, about two thirds of Burma's
exports to the EU are currently covered by GSP.

More than half of Burmese imports are made up of industrial
goods, mainly textiles, GSP officials say.

While the lifting of tariff privileges would hardly affect EU
importers- Burma is one of Europe's smallest Asian trading
partners Burma, one of the least developed nations in the region,
can ill afford the loss of trade.

The country's economic climate is "completely insane, " one EU
official said. "Its economy is slowing down They have certainly
not reached the stage of Indonesia 20 years ago."

" Forced labour is practically a tradition in Burma," another
official said. "Instead of being left in peace to cultivate their
hemp, farmers are moved by force to go and work on construction
sites," he said.

He said that although the GSP ban, if it goes through, is hardly
likely to improve the lives of Burmese peasants in any way, it
might at least "weigh on the leadership. It is both an economic
and political move."

The EU's broader concerns over human rights abuses in Burma has
created tensions in its relationship with the Association of
South East Asian Nations (Asean).

The regional group opposes moves to isolate Rangoon, arguing that
"constructive  engagement" is the best way to open up and develop
the country.

Although no date has been set for Burma's entry into Asean,
several EU experts believe it will come soon, maybe as early as
April.

In Kuala Lumpur in July Asean will celebrate 30 years of
existence and is seen as being keen on bringing Burma, Laos and
Cambodia in before the anniversary.

Currently, Asean groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
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