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Belgian resolution in support of CR



Subject: Belgian resolution in support of CRPP

Belgian resolution in support of CRPP

On February 4, the Belgian Parliament passed a resolution on Burma
in which it supports the Committee Representing the People's 
Parliament (CRPP). With its support to the CRPP Belgium joins
Norway and Denmark.

The resolution was supported unanimously by the 131 members 
present in the general assembly. It contains following points:

1. The Parliament urges the Belgian government "to condemn the 
military dictatorship of Burma (Myanmar) and all human rights 
violations";
2. The Parliament asks the government "to press the junta to com-
ply with the ILO Convention no 29 on Forced Labour (1930) and the
Convention (1948) on freedom of assembly and association";
3. Further the Belgian Parliament calls for "an immediate tripar-
tite dialogue with the National League for Democracy (NLD) includ-
ing Aung San Suu Kyi and the representatives of the ethnnic groups";
4. The Parliament also calls on the government "to urge Belgian
companies and touroperators to respect the appeal of the democrat-
ically elected majority (NLD) to cut all trade, investment and 
tourism links with Burma". With this initiative the Parliament 
suggests a change in government policy from gentle dissuation 
towards 'active discouragement';
5. The government is asked "to urge the European Council of Minis-
ters to maintain the existing sanctions against the regime in 
Burma (Myanmar) and to impose further sanctions". The Parliament 
also urges the government "to make sure that the humanitarian 
help to the population is not hindered'. In a question in Parliament 
on November 6, 1998 Foreign Minister Derycke confirmed that Bel-
gium is in favour of much stricter EU-sanctions than those taken 
at the Council Meeting on October 26,1998;
6. The Parliament asks the Belgian government "to urge the Thai 
government not to forcibly repatriate Burmese refugees from their 
territory and to make sure that the UNHCR and other organisations 
can fully support the refugees";
7. In the last point the Parliament says "it gives its support to the
Committee representing the Burmese Parliament".

During the debates in the Commission of Foreign Affairs earlier 
this  year the Foreign Minister shared the opinion of the Parliament 

that the situation in Burma is alarming. He said Belgium would 
continue its efforts to restore democracy and respect for human 
rights in Burma.

Birma Groep/Groupe Birmanie (Belgium)
Michel Beankens