EU threatens to undermine Burma arms embargo: Amnesty

The document claims that there is evidence that the Indian government is planning to transfer the Advanced Light Helicopter to Burma -- an Indian-manufactured helicopter but one that would not be operational without vital components from EU member states.

In question are the parts of the attack helicopter which originate from EU countries including fuel tanks and gearboxes from Britain, self-protection equipment from Sweden, brake systems from Italy, design development from Germany, guns and engines from France and rocket launchers from Belgium.

As a result of the findings, Amnesty, in collaboration with Saferworld and a range of other nongovernmental organizations, is calling on the European Union to ''initiate immediate consultations with the Indian government'' so that the transfer of ALH goes no further.

''The EU embargo explicitly states that no military equipment should be supplied, either directly or indirectly, for use in Myanmar (Burma). What's the point in having an arms embargo if it is not going to be implemented or enforced?'' Roy Isbister from Saferworld said.

The EU arms embargo on Burma was put in place in 1988 as a result of the country's record of serious human rights violations which have been documented by the United Nations as ''widespread and systematic.''

''Greater attention has to be given to the end-use agreements and the re-export of components from EU member states,'' Amnesty Arms Control Researcher Helen Hughes urged.

''Otherwise these states could find themselves indirectly propping up a brutal regime which they themselves have condemned and whose violations have amounted to crimes against humanity,'' Hughes added.

As a precautionary measure, the report recommends that, if India does indeed have plans to supply ALHs to Burma that EU member states ''withdraw all existing licence authorizations and refuse any new applications for any transfers of components or technology that could be used for the ALH.''

It also advises the countries involved to ''discontinue all future production cooperation with India that might lead to transfers of embargoed equipment to Burma and attach to all future licences for transfers of controlled goods and technology to India a strict and enforceable condition prohibiting re-export to states under embargo.''

''The EU must stand by its obligations to prevent its military equipment being used in Burma and urge the Indian Government to stop this transfer. EU equipment must not be allowed to be used in connection with human rights abuses in Burma,'' Info Birmanie from the Burma Campaign in France pleaded.//Kyodo News