Bkk Post-EU plans mission on rights

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Subject: Bkk Post-EU plans mission on rights improvement to Rangoon 

Bangkok Post June 30, 1999.
BURMA / BID TO BREAK POLITICAL DEADLOCK
EU plans mission on rights improvement to Rangoon
Nussara Sawatsawang

The European Union has floated a new initiative for dialogue with the
Burmese government in a bid to break a political deadlock between the
military junta and the opposition National League for Democracy, sources
said.

Under the initiative, made known to Thailand last week, the EU is to send a
fact-finding team of senior officials to Rangoon to seek its co-operation in
improving its human rights record, a source said. The EU also hopes the
mission would eventually lead to its mediating a dialogue between the ruling
State Peace and Development Council and NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the
source added.

The idea is to send the mission to Burma before Asean foreign ministers have
their annual meeting in late July.

A senior Foreign Ministry official welcomed the EU initiative, saying it was
in line with Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan's recent proposal to encourage
EU-Burma dialogue. The EU is a strong critic of Burma's failure to respect
human rights and democracy.

But a German embassy spokesman played down the proposal, saying the EU was
still discussing the matter informally with its Asean counterparts.
Germany's hold over the EU's six-month presidency ends today.

An Asean diplomat said yesterday the success of the proposal would lie with
Rangoon, which has not responded to it so far.