Question No 622 from Børge Brende (Conservative Party) about the situation in Burma

Question No. 622 (2006-2007), dated 19 February 2007
From Børge Brende (Conservative Party) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answered: 28 February 2007 by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre (Labour Party)

Question:
A draft resolution on Burma was voted down in the UN Security Council in January when it was vetoed by China and Russia. The debate preceding the vote revealed significant disagreement about whether the situation in Burma constitutes a threat to international peace and security and therefore falls within the competence of the Security Council. How does the Government assess the consequences of this vote, and what strategy will Norway adopt in its further efforts to promote political change in Burma and to keep up the pressure?

Answer:
Last autumn, Burma was put on the agenda of the Security Council for the first time, following strong US pressure. As Member of the Storting Brende correctly points out, a debate took place before the vote on whether the Security Council was the proper forum for considering issues related to Burma. Some were of the view that the Human Rights Council was a more appropriate forum. Norway does not have a seat on the Security Council, but was in favour of including the Burma issue on the Council agenda. I therefore regret the result of the vote, and believe that if the draft resolution had been adopted, this would have been an important show of support for the democratic forces in Burma.

It is difficult to assess the consequences of the failure of the resolution due to China’s and Russia’s vetoes. The situation in Burma remains serious, from both a human rights and a humanitarian perspective. Although the threat of a resolution may have been a contributing factor in the release of several political prisoners in early January, we sense a new hardening of the military junta’s line in the wake of the UN vote. An indication of this is the extension of the house arrest of Tin Oo, the deputy leader of the opposition party National League for Democracy. We deeply deplore this development, which further underlines the importance of following up the situation through all available channels.

The Security Council vote shows that it is difficult to build consensus in the international community for the view that the situation in Burma constitutes a threat to international peace and security. However, it is quite clear that the regime in Burma poses a threat to the country’s own population, which means that the international community must seek to influence the regime and improve the situation in the country. The Government will therefore continue to voice its view of the regime’s human rights violations and abuse of power.

Norway has on several occasions expressed concern about the situation in Burma, and has protested against attacks on opposition members and the civilian population. Norway has aligned itself with the EU’s common position on restrictive measures against Burma, and the Government encourages Norwegian nationals and trade organisations not to trade with, invest in or travel to Burma. We will continue to give strong support to the opposition in Burma.

Continued international pressure must be combined with efforts to find an internal solution. This requires involving the regime in one way or another. The Government will seek, in cooperation with other countries, to steer developments in a constructive direction wherever possible. We are maintaining a close dialogue with the other Nordic countries, the EU and countries in Asia in an effort to ensure a more coordinated approach to the Burma issue.

We are also continuing efforts within the UN framework, and will seek to ensure that Burma remains on the agenda of the Human Rights Council. At the same time, the Government is looking for ways of influencing internal developments in Burma. Last year, Norway provided NOK 44 million in humanitarian assistance to Burma.