Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Michigan Journal of International Law

Abstract

According to the most recent figures, E.U. countries still import Euro306 million ($454 million) of commodities and products, ninety-five percent of which are textiles, timber, gems, and precious metals. However, the Common Position of November 19, 2007, strengthens considerably E.U. measures against the Burmese regime and contains a ban on the importation of these goods from Burma. Further, the Common Position requires E.U. countries to prohibit intentional and knowing "participation" in activities that "directly or indirectly" have the "object or effect" of circumventing this ban; this could include the transshipment of banned materials from countries other than Burma, which may have been processed or altered in some way so that they do not qualify as imports of Burmese origin under the rules of origin that apply to imports into the European Community as a general matter. The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) continued to suppress protesters, but pledged to hold multiparty elections. These elections occurred in 1990, and the main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won over eighty percent of parliamentary seats. In response, SLORC called the election invalid and refused to relinquish control over the government. After a failed promise to draft a new constitution, SLORC changed its name in 1997 to the more benign-sounding State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). The SPDC has continued SLORC's repressive authoritarian rule. Despite promises in 2003 to create a "road map" to democracy, the SPDC retains control of Burma's executive, administrative, and judicial branches. Corruption is widespread, and Burma is at the bottom of many world indicators on education, health care delivery, and per capita gross domestic product (GDP). Burma attracted worldwide attention after a 100 percent increase in the price of fuel and a 500 percent hike in the price of natural gas on August 15, 2007, triggered the largest mass protests in the country since 1988.

First Page

165

Volume

29

Publication Date

2008

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