02.10.2007
EGP Member Parties throughout Europe
organise protests against Burmese regime’s brutal repression of mass
demonstrations
Green Parties throughout Europe have been organising protest
actions against the brutal repression by the Burmese military regime of the
peaceful mass demonstrations in Burma
(also known as Myanmar).
These actions ranged from a protest outside the Chinese Embassy in Vienna and a candlelight vigil for Burma outside the Finnish Parliament in Helsinki to rallies in Stockholm,
London, Brussels
and Amsterdam
which the Green parties in those countries participated in. The headquarters of
the German Green Party in Berlin
have been decorated with large saffron-coloured banners, as a symbol of
solidarity with the Burmese monks whose robes are that colour. Green parties in
the Netherlands, Belgium and France
have called for a consumer boycott of the French oil company, TOTAL, which is
the largest foreign commercial operator in Burma’s economy and
co-operates closely with the Burmese regime.
EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe
Lamberts said: “It is very encouraging to
see Green Parties throughout Europe protest against the murderous behaviour of
the Burmese military regime and show their solidarity with the courageous
people of Burma
who have been showing in the past two weeks their desire for democracy and
freedom. The Burmese regime have themselves admitted to killing 16 protesters ,
although expert analysts have said the true figure is likely to be 200 or
even more. It is crucial that EU citizens and politicians continue to put
pressure on European companies which continue to trade with the Burmese regime
so that they cease to do so and in the meantime that those companies put
pressure on the regime to respect the human rights of the Burmese people.
“
EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek, who
is also the Austrian Green Party Parliamentary Spokesperson on Foreign and
International Development Affairs, continued : “It is
worth pointing out that the protests here in Europe have targeted not only the
Burmese regime itself, but also countries such as China and India, which
support the Burmese regime and must use their influence to ensure that the
military regime opens dialogue
with the country’s democratic opposition and releases political
prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi. For our part, we Austrian Greens held a
demonstration outside the Chinese Embassy in Vienna and I presented a letter of protest to
the Chinese Ambassador. As Co-Spokespersons of the EGP, Philippe Lamberts and I
will also be writing to the Chinese and Indian diplomatic representations to
the EU, calling on them to put greater pressure on the Burmese regime.”
Note for editors: for more details and photos of the
various actions organised by the EGP member parties throughout Europe, go to www.europeangreens.org
Graham Burgess
Communications Officer
European Green Party
Tel no :+32 2 626 0724
Mobile:+32 477 902
023
email:graham.burgess@europeangreens.org
www.europeangreens.org