Activists protest junta PM’s Copenhagen visit

by Mungpi
Monday, 07 December 2009 21:37

New Delhi (Mizzima) - Burmese activists in Denmark and Norway urged the European Union to reinforce its common position on Burma’s military rulers, with no special exception of allowing the junta’s high-level officials visiting the Union’s member countries.

The activists said the call was made in response to the news of Burma’s Prime Minister General Thein Sein arriving in Copenhagen on Tuesday to take part in the United Nations conference on climate change.

“We are asking the EU to re-examine its common position, because if the Burmese Prime Minister can be exempted from attending UN conferences in Europe, the common position does not have its impact at all,” Myint Wei, a leading activist in Copenhagen told Mizzima.

The activists, numbering 50, will gather on Tuesday in front of the Copenhagen Bella Centre with placards displaying slogans and messages against the visiting Burmese Prime Minister.

“We will be joined by our fellow activists from Norway. We want to remind the world that the Burmese military regime is not the legitimate government of Burma and they have no place in a conference like this,” added Myint Wei, who is also a member of Forum of Burmese in Europe (FBE).

Last week, an official at the UN Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Denmark told Mizzima that the Burmese Prime Minister would be attending the conference.

The Danish Foreign Ministry, however, on Monday refused to confirm the news of Thein Sein’s visit to Copenhagen.

The European Union has imposed sanctions against Burma’s military rulers including a visa ban on the junta officials and their family members.

Myint Wei said, Denmark being an EU member, should abide by its common position on Burma.

He also said the Burmese regime should first initiate a process of political reconciliation through dialogue, before it can talk of improving the climate, because it is the biggest destroyer of Burmese forests and natural resources that has a severe impact on the environment and the climate.

Unless there is political stability there can be no sustainable policy that will help improve the environment, Myint Wei along with other activists said.

“We are, therefore, calling for the release of Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and urging the regime to start a process of dialogue with her,” added Myint Wei.

Burmese people, who have resettled to European countries including Denmark, Norway, Germany, Britain, Sweden, Czech Republic, Austria, have formed the Forum of Burmese in Europe (FBE) and are keeping their dreams of democratic change in Burma alive by organizing and conducting awareness campaigns.