KO AUNG (Free Burma coalition, UK) said,
EU SHOULD HOLD ON CURRENT COMMON POSITION OF TARGETED SANCTIONS ON BURMA, AND ALSO SHOULD TAKE FURTHER TOUGHER STEP ON THE OPPRESSIVE REGIME THAT HAS BEEN RULING BURMA FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES.

Henry Soe-Win (Democracy for Burma Forum, Australia) said,
Our unity will lead to victory for everyone. Unity in one voice to request EU to ban the military regime from Burma traveling to Europe.

Dr. David P. Law (a US based democracy activist) said,
There is a Burmese saying: “Yaza palin KHWAY tet,� meaning a DOG climbs onto the royal throne, and I don’t mean a royal pedigree lap dog. In this Burmese context, DOG means a loathsome, filthy, creature.

If EU grants visas to SPDC representatives to attend meetings in Europe, it will be disgusting as in the above example!

EU and ASEAN should stand together in opposing any SPDC presence at any meeting. If the ASEAN boycotts EU meetings because SPDC is not invited, there are not enough words to describe such stupidity. However, condemnations of SPDC from Malaysia and other ASEAN nations show that some of them are coming to their senses.

Let us continue to encourage both the EU, ASEAN and every DECENT and MORAL leader to boycott SPDC.

Dr. Habib Siddiqui (a US based human rights activist) said,
The problem with most countries is their unfathomed greed which almost always takes precedence over any other legitimate human rights and democratic concerns. So, while they preach democracy and human rights, they are truly not serious about following through a clear roadmap to bring about those changes in countries that are guilty of gross violation. There is a name for such a behavior: Hypocrisy.

Yes, EU is hypocritical in allowing Burmese government representatives to do their usual business including making trips to EU nations. Shame is also on China for standing behind the oppressive SPDC regime.

What is, therefore, needed by all progressive, democratic-minded individuals and groups is to show the obvious hypocrisy of the governments that do their businesses with the Burmese regime. No nation or leader can afford to be on both sides of this important debate of our time: either you are with the SPDC regime, or you are for the democratic and human rights movement.

Derek Tonkin (former British Ambassador) said,
There is no evidence, as yet, that the EU Common Position on Burma has recently “softened� in any way whatsoever. It has not changed since it was last reviewed 10 months ago.

The only issue under discussion at the present time is what Burmese representation should be permitted at the ASEM meetings which are due to take place in Europe this year. If the decision is none, then the meetings will simply be cancelled because the ASEAN countries will not attend. This would be a set-back, particularly to EU-ASEAN relations at a time when the EU is working hard to persuade ASEAN to take a tougher line towards Burma. This cannot be what we want. I do not believe that the EU will allow this to happen.

EU policy provides for exceptions to the visa ban “where travel is justified ……on grounds of attending intergovernmental meetings, including those promoted by the European Union, where a political dialogue is conducted that directly promotes democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Burma/Myanmar� [Article 6/5 CFSP April 2004]. The EU could very well decide that the ASEM meetings meet this objective and permit appropriate Burmese representation. There would be no change of policy in that event.

It is not the European Commission which decides visa policy, but the European Council (of Ministers).

Terry Evans (a human rights activist from New Zealand) said,
The Burmese military have no right to attend any international conference to represent the interests of the Burmese people. Quite frankly the top military are nothing less than gangsters in fancy dress.

Salai Za Uk Ling (a Chin ethnic leader) said,
I am afraid the move, to ease travel ban, could be misinterpreted by the military junta and its ASEAN allies as the EU and Western nations finally giving up on a lost cause. Tenacity and resolve are needed to send a clear signal to the military regime that the world will not let off those murderous thugs so easily. The EU cannot be seen as relenting when just the opposite is what’s desperately needed. The voices of ‘civilized’ western world need to be coherent. The US cannot do one thing while the EU does another. They need to have a coherent and collaborative approach if they really want to see any positive impacts on Burma.

Feraya Nangmone (a Shan exile in US) said,
If EU has any good sense or any moral ethical conscience at all, they will not even be inviting any Burmese military to any international conference to represent the Burmese people. It is giving the military regime credence that they are a valid government which they definitely are NOT! We should strongly oppose this senseless diabolical action!

Shah Arkani (a human rights activist) said,
EU should not play hypocritical role with the suffering people of Burma. We have suffered more than enough and no one should be soften on the military dictatorial regime. EU’s ban on visas to regime’s ministers and all the other embargo should remain until the regime gives up.

Tai Sam Yone (a Shan freedom activist) said,
I do not support the invitation to the ‘pariah’ state generals. They need to get the message that they are not welcome anywhere in the world. Why isn’t the EU pressuring China to stop entertaining them?

Khin Aye (a human rights activist) said,
The Europeans must not backpedal on the visa issue. Now that NLD has made the ultimate concession of offering to recognize the junta if the generals call the parliament of MPs elected in 1990, the whole world should support NLD’s proposal and not concede an inch to the junta, Now is not the time for meaningless concession or “flexibility�. The visa ban, even though it may not be 100% effective, is producing a pronounced result — ASEAN must have finally woken up to the fact that having the pariah state as their member is like an albatross around their collective neck. The frequent cancellation of meetings with the Europeans must be unnerving the ASEAN countries so that their spine has become a bit stiffened regarding how to deal with Burma. Please stay firm on the visa ban. Too bad there are numbers of generals’ sons and daughters in the US, though.