Declaration by the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on the Prison Sentences Handed Down to Human Rights Activists in Burma
- On: 12.11.2008
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union strongly condemns the heavy sentences handed down to several dozen human rights activists and civil society members on 11 November.
The decision is contrary to the demands of the international community, which has repeatedly requested the release of all the political prisoners and the end to political arrests, notably through the statements by the President of the Security Council on 11 October 2007 and 2 May 2008, the report by the United Nations Secretary-General on the human rights situation in Burma and the ASEM Chair’s statement in Beijing on 24 and 25 October.
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union urges the Burmese authorities to reverse these sentences and immediately and unconditionally release all the political prisoners.
It recalls the conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 10 November that underlined that the elections planned for 2010 would only be credible if the Burmese government unconditionally freed all the political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and entered into inclusive dialogue with all the opposition and minority parties, which is the only means of ensuring national reconciliation.
- Updated: 12.11.2008
