Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Oct 1994

Vol. 445 No. 6

Written Answers. - Government Action on East Timor.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

111 Mr. Deenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, the Government intends taking on behalf of the people of East Timor who have been subjected to continuous aggression since the year 1975. [168/94]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The concerns of the Government at the human rights situation in East Timor and at the actions of the Indonesian authorities there have been set out in replies to several previous questions. Since June, when I last outlined the steps taken by the Government, the Government has continued to take an active interest in the plight of the East Timorese people and has highlighted its concern at recent bilateral and international meetings:

— in my address to the United Nations General Assembly on 28 September, I pointed to human rights abuses in East Timor as an issue requiring international action;

— at the recent Conference of European Union and ASEAN Ministers in Karlsruhe, Germany, Minister of State, Mr. Tom Kitt, raised the concerns of the Irish Government and people directly with the Indonesian Foreign Minister Mr. Ali Alatas;

— and during his visit to Australia last month the Taoiseach discussed the issue with Prime Minister Keating.

In addition, with Ireland's strong support, the issue of East Timor was covered in the Memorandum submitted by the European Union to the United Nations for the 49th session of the General Assembly, and was raised by the German Presidency of the EU at the EU/ASEAN Conference in Karlsruhe.

The Government will continue to raise this issue at every appropriate opportunity. I shall also continue to support the dialogue between Portugal and Indonesia under the auspices of the United Nations as the best means of achieving respect for human rights and a lasting solution to the question of East Timor.