"We cannot let it happen that large groups of people are suffering of hunger, while a military regime is standing by. No people should die to save the international face of a military regime.", says CDYA chairman Harry van der Molen. Leaving chairman of PerspectivE Christian Union Youth Rogier Havelaar says that  "when there's a humanitarian crisis like this going on, the international community is under the obligation to intervene. Keeping humanitarian aid from reaching people who need it is murder. We should start with massive aid and we should start soon. And if the regime does not approve, than we should do it without the approval of the regime." "It is inpermissible that a dictatorship is able to fend off a broad front of helping hands. Political concertednes should break through this.", says chairman of the SGP Youngsters Jan Kloosterman.

The youth organisations have written a letter, that was sent today to all ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 27 EU member states, to the European Commissioner for External Relations (Ferrero-Waldner) and to the High Representative for the common foreign and security policy (Solana). In this letter the youth organisations call on the ministers to undertake swift action to prevent the number of victims from increasing even further.

The ministers of Foreign Affairs should increase the pressure on the Birmean government, to allow the aid offered. The Birmean government should furthermore be prepared to offer all necessary documents for foreign aid workers to enter the country. All means possible should be used to give the Birmean victims the humanitarian aid they are entitled to. The concern for the victims should prevail over consideration for the sovereignty of Birma.

Linked documents

Title	Filesize	MIME-type
Letter on Birma to Ministers of Foreign Affairs	62.0 kB	application/pdf