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Burma: Arms Trade

Volume 481: debated on Thursday 23 October 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of India on arms sales to the Government of Burma. (228185)

The matter was raised with the Indian Government last year when we became aware that India had sold arms to Burma. If further sales come to our attention, we will again raise our concerns. The EU has an arms embargo against Burma and calls on all countries to consider carefully whether arms which are used against civilians should be sold to Burma.

We continue to raise the need for political change in Burma with the Indian Government at the highest levels. We hope that, as the world’s largest democracy, India will use the influence that it has on the Burmese regime to encourage the start of an inclusive political process leading to genuine democracy and respect for human rights.