Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Apr 1995

Vol. 451 No. 5

Written Answers. - Peruvian Difficulties.

Noel Treacy

Question:

45 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the role which he has played on behalf of Ireland and with the United Nations in relation to the difficulties in Peru; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6737/95]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

There are hopeful signs that Peru may be emerging from the political and economic instability which has affected it in recent years. The Peruvian authorities have been making efforts to improve the protection of human rights, which has been a source of concern to the international community. Pursuant to the new Constitution, approved by referendum in 1993, the Peruvian Congress recently enacted legislation establishing a Tribunal of Constitutional Guarantees — a body which will rule on the constitutionality of legislation and government action. The new Constitution also makes provision for the creation of an Office of the Defender of the People — which is intended to fulfil a role akin to that of an Ombudsman in relation to the protection of human rights. The terrorist repentance law, used in the struggle against guerillas of the Shining Path movement and which allegedly led to arbitrary detentions based on false accusation, has been repealed. Efforts have been made to address the issue of impunity of State security personnel. In this regard, Congress passed legislation last year which paved the way for the conviction of a number of military officers in connection with the abduction and killing of nine students and a professor from La Cantuta University in 1992.

Ireland and her partners in the European Union have followed developments in Peru with close attention and will continue to do so. At the recent session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, the Union welcomed the improvement in the human rights situation there and called on the Government of Peru to pursue its efforts in that direction. In particular, we stressed the importance of the application of impartial and transparent judicial processes for the consolidation of democracy. The European Union is also giving practical and political support to the consolidation of democracy throughout Latin America, for example, through its dialogue with the Rio Group of countries, of which Peru is a member.

Progress has also been made towards a peaceful resolution of Peru's border dispute with Ecuador through the mechanisms of the 1942 Rio Protocol which defines their common border. When fighting broke out on the border in January, the European Union expressed its profound regret that, despite the current process of co-operation and integration in the Latin American region, hostilities had broken out leading to the loss of life. We have supported the mediation of the guarantor States under the Rio Protocol, namely the United States, Brazil, Chile and Argentina, which has led to a ceasefire, the withdrawal of both countries' troops from the disputed area and the deployment of military observers from the guarantor States. We will continue to urge the two Governments concerned to work for a negotiated settlement within the framework of the mechanisms of the Rio Protocol.