I thank Senator Henry for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The Government unreservedly condemns the imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy, and demands her immediate and unconditional release. On 30 May 2003, she was travelling in northern Burma. According to reports, her supporters were attacked and fired on by followers of the Union, Solidarity and Development Association, a group which supports the Burmese regime. Along with 18 others, Aung San Suu Kyi was detained and unconfirmed reports at the time indicate that she received head injuries. I understand she has since been brought back to the Rangoon area and is now in custody. Recent reports indicate she is being imprisoned at the infamous insane prison. At the time of the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese Government also announced the closure of a number of offices of the National League for Democracy and universities.
On 10 June 2003, Mr. Rosali Ishmael, the special representative of the United Nations Secretary General, was allowed to visit Aung San Suu Kyi in her prison cell and he reported her to be unharmed. Mr. Rosali stated that he had received assurances from the regime that she would be soon released, but, to date, it has not responded to the calls by the international community and she has not yet been released, nor is she allowed visitors.
On 2 June 2003, Mr. Solana, the representative for the European Union common foreign and security policy, issued a statement condemning the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi by the military Government of Burma. He urged her immediate release and the reopening of the offices of the National League for Democracy. He added that the regime's repressive behaviour confirmed its lack of interest in the return to democracy. It will almost certainly, and rightly, reinforce the European Union's resolve to stick to the current policy of sanctions against the military regime. The Government fully associated itself with Mr. Solana's statement.
A démarche on behalf of the EU was also delivered by the acting presidency in Rangoon to the Burmese authorities. It sought the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and her party officials and the reopening of the National League for Democracy offices and universities. The European Union called on the Burmese authorities to refrain from any action which might inflame further tensions and co-operate fully and constructively with Razali Ismail, special representative of the United Nations Secretary General.
Statements have also been made by Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, on 31 May and 23 June regarding developments in Burma. He called on the regime to release immediately Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the NLD and work with all parties, including the NLD, to bring about national reconciliation in Burma as soon as possible. Recent events in Burma have been discussed by officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Burmese and ethnic leaders of the Democratic Movement in Exile. Recently, these leaders participated in capacity building training in Ireland which was funded by Ireland Aid.
Events were discussed at EU level by Ministers at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 16 and 17 June. The Council adopted conclusions on Burma which called for the release of Suu Kyi, the reopening of universities and the offices of the National League for Democracy and the holding to account of those responsible for the attack on Suu Kyi. The conclusions called on the Burmese Government to enter into substantive and meaningful dialogue with the opposition, expressed support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General's special representative and called on ASEAN countries, as well as China, India and Japan, to use their influence with Burma to effect change. Furthermore, the Council agreed that the ministerial level EU Troika which had been planned to visit Burma in July this year would not go ahead.
In view of the further deterioration of the political climate in Burma, the Council decided to review and strengthen the EU common position and extended the scope of the visa ban and assets freeze to include further members of the regime. The Council has also decided to enforce the prohibition on technical training or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of arms, munitions and military equipment.
On 3 June the Burmese Foreign Minister, Win Aung, wrote to Foreign Minister Papandreou of Greece, which holds the EU Presidency, setting out the Burmese Government's version of recent events. A common response on behalf of all EU Foreign Ministers setting out our agreed position has since been sent. The European Council at Thessaloníki, on 18 and 19 June, expressed its continued grave concern over developments in Burma. It urged the Burmese authorities immediately to release Suu Kyi, as well as other members of the NLD, and reopen NLD offices.
Since the detention of Suu Kyi, the EU Troika has carried out a series of demarches in the region. These contacts have taken place with several of the Foreign Ministries of members of ASEAN, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, and, in the wider region, India, China and Japan. At the recent 36th ASEAN ministerial meeting in Phnom Penh on 16 and 17 June, in an unusual departure from ASEAN's policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of its member states, the Foreign Ministers engaged in a reportedly frank exchange regarding recent developments in Burma to which an unprecedented reference was made in the final communiqué.
The ASEAN regional forum, which includes the USA and the European Union among its members, also met on 18 and 19 June. Delegates expressed their disquiet and pressed the Burmese Foreign Minister to take steps to release Suu Kyi and enter into dialogue with the Opposition. At the meeting Colin Powell, US Secretary of State, was vocal in his calls for the release of Suu Kyi and asked that more pressure be brought to bear on Burma by ASEAN partners. Proposals are at an advanced state for legislation in the USA to impose trade restrictions on imports from Burma. The US Administration is also working on a travel ban of senior Burmese officials.
On 23 June the Japanese Vice-Foreign Minister, Mr. Tetsuo Yano, travelled to Burma where he conveyed a message from the Japanese Government which requested that Suu Kyi be set free as soon as possible. Since then Japan has decided to freeze any new development assistance to Burma. This week Indonesia assumed the chair of ASEAN and it is expected that its Foreign Minister will lead an ASEAN delegation to Burma in the coming months.
Later this month Ireland will be represented by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, at the ASEM Foreign Ministers' meeting in Bali on 23 and 24 July. This meeting of EU and Asian Foreign Ministers will be hosted by the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr. Wirajuda, and will provide an important opportunity for Ireland, with our EU partners, to convey our serious concerns on Burma to our Asian partners. The ASEM process represents the best forum through which to strengthen dialogue and partnership between the European Union and Asia on issues of common concern.
