On 11th and 12th February 2010, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Conference on restoration of democracy in Burma took place in Tokyo. It gathered ITUC affiliates, European trade unions affiliated to the ETUC, as well as Global Union Federations.

In the context of the upcoming general elections in Burma, the Conference worked on identifying possible ways of short and long term actions to maintain pressure on the junta and to support the Federation of trade unions – Burma (FTUB), affiliated to the ITUC.

Burma is going through a decisive moment. While general elections are planned for 2010, no date has been officially communicated yet, and the necessary election legislation has not been passed. The Constitution adopted in 2008 by a controversial referendum that took place after Cyclone Nargis contains draconian restrictions which clearly hamper a free and transparent election process. It clearly seeks to entrench military rule and limit the role of independent political parties such as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD.

The ETUC, along with the ITUC, considers that if the Burmese 2010 general elections were to be held in these circumstances, they could not be deemed legitimate. Basic conditions must be met, the release of all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and dialogue with the opposition and ethnic groups, to ensure national reconciliation and constitutional changes providing for a genuine transition to democracy and respect for human rights.

The ETUC calls upon the EU to clearly identify strong benchmarks based on these conditions according to which the election process should be assessed.

This is a moment for the international community not to reduce pressure, but on the contrary to maintain and reactivate it. The European Union must take the lead in this process.

There is clear evidence that sanctions do have an impact. The European Union has adopted sanctions and strengthened them, particularly after the Saffron Revolution. Their effectiveness must be assessed and communicated in a transparent manner, and they must be maintained and reinforced until the Junta responds in a truly positive way to the demands of the international community.

The ETUC, along with the ITUC, has consistently called for the EU to adopt tougher sanctions. Additional sanctions to those already in place, including financial and third party transactions, insurance, energy and banning all new investment, must be considered now so that they can be implemented immediately in case the general elections are not held according to the benchmarks identified by the EU.

The ETUC also calls on the EU to:
 take advantage of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to work towards Asian Governments’ stronger commitment and to elaborate a coordinated approach; and
 in preparation for the EU high-level mission to Burma at the end of April, meet with the ETUC and the ITUC to discuss the terms of such a mission and incorporate the views of the Burmese trade union movement;

It further calls on the EU to support and promote, during the March meeting of the ILO Governing Body stronger action on:
 abolishing forced labour, given the continued prevalence of forced labour in the country, and the Burmese Government’s alarming reprisals against victims of forced labour and facilitators filing complaints under the ILO’s Supplementary Understanding; and
 guaranteeing the right to freedom of association, given the ban on free and independent trade unions in Burma, and particularly in light of the recent worker strikes emerging across Burma.

The ETUC recalls the unique decisions by the ILO in 2000 to request international organisations, governments, employer organisations and workers organisations to take action against the military regime in Burma and the additional specific request concerning foreign direct investment (FDIs) in 2005 to exert pressure in order to achieve the eradication of forced labour in Burma. The affiliates of the ETUC are called upon to take any legally possible action and where appropriate refuse to deal with goods and services of Burmese origin.

The ETUC calls on all of its affiliates to raise these issues directly with their national governments.