15th December 2006

Burma's democracy movement has called for targeted economic sanctions against the regime in Burma, which spends up to half its budget on the military.

Cllr Philip Booth, a spokesperson for Stroud District Green party said: "Instead of stopping companies investing in the oil, gas and timber sectors in Burma, where the regime earns most of its money, British and European companies are banned from investing in a pineapple juice factory and a few other minor companies. It’s a joke."

Britain is ranked as the second largest source of approved investment in Burma, but the government refuses to ban companies from investing there.

Philip Booth said: "To highlight just how ridiculous the UK and EU sanctions are, we have joined campaigners in posting pineapples - fresh, dried or tinned - to Margaret Beckett, the British Foreign Secretary, and calling on her to unilaterally ban new investment in Burma (i). The USA banned new investment back in 1997. Britain must now ban new investment in Burma."

Notes

(i) Send your pineapple to:
Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Foreign Secretary,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
King Charles St,
London SW1A 2AH

To find out more about the campaign visit:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/pineapple.html


*  Investment hurts, not helps, Burmese people - In many countries trade and investment can benefit the poor, but in Burma the opposite is the case. Foreign trade and investment has enabled the regime to double the size of the army, and at the same time Burma has reduced spending on health and education.

* The UK is the second largest source of approved investment in Burma - The regime estimates it has received a total of more than 1.2 billion dollars of UK investment since 1988, largely because companies from all over the world have used UK overseas territories to channel investment to Burma. They are attracted to dependent territories by tax incentives and the lack of transparency. In addition, UNOCAL used the fact that it had invested in Burma via Bermuda to try to avoid being sued in US courts over human rights abuses.

* If the EU won’t act, the UK can - The government says it wants multilateral action against the regime. So do we, but France, Germany and other EU members refuse. Britain must show leadership and act unilaterally to ban investment. Britain could act today to stop foreign companies using the UK to invest in Burma, and introduce legislation to stop UK companies investing in Burma. It refuses to do so.