McKenna (V). - Mr President, today's debate is quite timely as industrial leaders in different parts of the world are pressurizing governments into dropping any plans for sanctions against Burma.

Earlier this week the US-ASEAN Business Council, which represents the cream of American and South-East Asian business people, made a strong denunciation of economic sanctions against Burma. Instead it called on the US to adopt a strategy of constructive engagement with the Burmese authorities to maintain economic links with Burma while pushing for change. Constructive engagement was exactly the policy which Ronald Reagan pursued in South Africa. That policy prolonged the suffering of black people and it was only when the international community was mobilized intotaking strong economic measures against South Africa that the apartheid regime crumbled.

Recent events in Burma also show the need for decisive action at EU level. The oppression of Burma's six-million-strong Karen minority has become increasingly ferocious over the past few months. The Karen are seeking an autonomy which the British guaranteed them when they made Burma independent in 1949.

There have been numerous allegations of mutilation, rape and indiscriminate firing on civilians fleeing across the Burmese-Thai border. The Burmese military junta cannot use its ongoing conflict with the rebels of the Karen National Union as an excuse for attacks on civilians.

Amnesty International has estimated that almost 2,000 people were arrested for political reasons in Burma last year. The vast majority of them are believed to have been involved in entirely peaceful activities.

When the Burmese Prime-Minister-in-exile visited Dublin recently he expressed fears that the European Union would ease its pressure on the generals in power for trade reasons. We need an assurance from both the Commission and the Council that this will not happen.

The Greens fully support the EU's decision to withdraw trade preferences for Burma on both industrial and agricultural goods, but more action needs to be taken.

TOTAL, the French state-owned oil company, has been active in Burma for many years and there have been allegations that it has used forced labour, including child labour, in its work. A few months ago it, along with the US company UNOCAL, signed a new contract with Burmese oil and gas enterprises to expand natural gas explorations in the Andaman Sea.

This summer ASEAN is expected to admit Burma as a member. During the ASEAN January meeting efforts were made by certain foreign ministers to keep human rights off the agenda. If Burma is admitted the EU must raise its ongoing abuse of human rights there at every opportunity.