RESOLUTION B3-1426 and 1477/92

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to its previous resolutions on the human rights situation in Burma;

B. seriously concerned about the fact that, according to Amnesty International, at least 1600 political prisoners remain imprisoned without trial or after trials which fell far short of international standards for fair trial;

C. whereas anyone who opposes the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) is at particular risk and many leaders and rank and file members of opposition parties have been arrested or threatened, including Aung San Sun Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and the Sakharov Prize, under house arrest since 1989;

D. gravely concerned in particular by the reports of the condition of Win Tin, the first leader of the National League of Democracy to be detained in June 1989, who is in Insein Prison in Rangoon;

E. whereas his life is at risk if he is not given surgical treatment very soon and believing he may be being denied medical care in revenge for his role in encouraging Aung San Sun Kyi to enter politics in 1988;

1. Condemns the continuing violation of human rights in Burma and calls for the unconditional release of Mrs Aung San Sun Kyi and all other political prisoners;

2. Calls on the Burmese authorities to ensure that Win Tin receives the necessary medical treatment without delay;

3. Calls on European Political Cooperation to consider urgently how to exert pressure on the SLORC, for instance by means of an economic boycott, bearing in mind that in Burma military expenditure accounts for 60% of the national budget;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, EPC and the SLORC.