I just attended a meeting of the subcommittee on human rights at the European Parliament in Brussels.  On the agenda was Burma.  And as ever, the lack of political will and inaction in the international community was particularly salient.

For two decades Aung Sun Suu Kyi has been in the headlines.  Her cause celebrated and discussed ad hominem among the elite here in Brussels, in Washington, in Paris as well as in the inner circles of the United Nations.  A large banner of  Aung Sun Suu Kyi hangs dominant just outside the European Parliament. On it - we are reminded that she was awarded the coveted Sakharov prize 19 years ago.  On it - we are reminded that she won the Nobel Peace Prize.

And that is just the point. Nineteen years and here we are today with a military junta that now has access to the Obama administration, to a military junta that commits egregious violations of human rights, to a junta that pretends to lay down a democracy but will pull all the strings, to a junta that can now sideline China.

Don’t forget that General Than Shwe had the “decency” to organize a referendum on the constitution last year under the aegis of the so-called Burmese State Peace and Development Council (SPCD).  Remember cyclone Nargis?  Despite the humanitarian disaster that followed the storm - the regime reported a massive turnout in favor.

“Whole villages had voted against the constitution but were counted as having voted in favor,” said Emmanouil Athanasiou of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) who also present at the committee.

Aung Sun Suu Kyi’s detention was extended which will prevent her from participating in the up coming elections.  The American who swam across the moat has since been released thanks to the intervention of one US senator.  But the consequences of this man’s bizarre act and desire for international attention? has reinforced the junta.

“The breach of security allowed the regime to detain her and establish direct links with the US administration.  The regime can now ignore pressure from China over the attacks on ethnic groups on the boarder,” Harn Yawnghwe, Director of the Euro-Burma office, told the gathering of EU deputies.

The General maintains close political and economic relations with neighboring countries and ASEAN.  How then can EU sanctions have any impact?  If anything, they strengthen the resolve of the regime while some 30% of Burma’s population just - and only just - manage to feed themselves.

The reports of continued crimes against humanity cannot be ignored.  The military junta has banned NGOs and denied the UN  Special Rapporteur access to investigate human rights abuses.  But public sources on the ground, from individuals and clandestine groups continue to document abuse.  Mr. Yawnghwe told me after the meeting that they have secret sources who are able to send the information via satellite.

How many more testimonies, how much more evidence is needed to push the international community into a proactive stance against the regime?  At the 2005 World Summit, world leaders harped on about the “responsibility to protect” victims. Perhaps there is too much money at stake.  The list of international companies, American, European and Asian that deal with the regime is long.

Aung Sun Suu Kyi has repeatedly asked people not to visit Burma as tourists because it helps finance the regime and undermine the opposition. So let’s see what the BBC’s Lonely Planet endorses by encouraging tourism in Burma.

1. Extrajudicial killings in ethnic minority areas by the Tatmadaw (the Burmese army). The Tatmadaw is using murder as a weapon of fear and have a “shoot on sight” policy.  Their target - Shan, Karenni and Karen communities in the east of the country.

2.Death in custody of political prisoners:  The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) have documented 139 political prisoners who have died because of severe torture.

3.Violations of the right to life: The Depayin Massacre on 30 May 2003 demonstrated the regime’s brutality.  Evidence was later revealed that the military regime had premeditated the attack on Aung San Suu Kyi and her entourage.

4. Enslavement:  Individuals are abducted and forced to work under threat of violence. These people can be found toiling away at military camps where they do any number of tasks from portering to heavy construction to services for the profit of private individuals.

5. Rape:  Rape is common throughout the country.  The military use it as a means to terrorize the population and establish control over land and resources of ethnic minority groups.   Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) and Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) documented 173 incidents of rape involving 625 girls and women committed by the Tatmadaw.  Eighty-three percent were committed by officers, mostly in front of the troops.  Twenty-five percent ended in death. Sixty-one percent were gang rapes.  For more information on this see “License to Rape.”

And the list goes on and on.

The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), working with individuals and clandestine civil society organizations inside Burma, is demanding action for the international community to stop dealing with the junta as if it were a legitimate government.

“We have received reports of crimes against humanity and war crimes which are still occurring and yet the international community focuses on the political issues,”  said Mr. Athanasiou.

The FIDH wants the UN Security Council to appoint an international Commission of Inquiry that would channel the widespread accusations of human rights abuse.  This Commission would investigate and verify allegations, document, and make recommendations.

“We support the FIDH,” said Mr. Yawnghwe, “but  their solution is on a long term basis.  We want solutions now.”

Mr. Yawnghwe is instead hoping for a domestic solution to the problem that entails supporting the upcoming elections if only to expose the farce.