Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 8

Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses in Burma.

Liam Fitzgerald

Question:

17 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the new initiatives, if any, which have been adopted recently by the EU Council of Foreign Ministers regarding the current situation in Burma; his views on whether Ireland has a unique opportunity as President of the European Union to put the issue of human rights abuses in this military dictatorship high on the political agenda; whether he or officials from his Department have met with the Burma Action Group in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16357/96]

Eoin Ryan

Question:

29 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's and the EU's response to the call made by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the Burmese National League for Democracy, for the imposition of trade and investment sanctions on the State of Law and Order Restoration Council regime in Burma. [20054/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 17 and 29 together.

For a comprehensive account of Government actions in relation to the situation in Burma I refer to my reply to Question No. 60 of 22 October, and Questions Nos. 46 to 62 inclusive of 23 October 1996.

The Irish Presidency has already raised the deteriorating political and human rights situation in Burma on a number of occasions. I myself have expressed EU concerns in a forthright manner to the Burmese Foreign Minister, Ohn Gyaw, in meetings with him in Jakarta in July and in New York in September. I have also expressed the concerns of the Union at meetings with the ASEAN countries in Jakarta last July. We have also discussed the situation in Burma at the highest levels with other influential countries including Japan and the United States.

I regret to say that the Burmese authorities have failed to make any significant response to the strong representations made by the European Union. In view of this, and given the degree of concern in the EU at the absence of progress towards democratisation and the continuing violation of human rights in Burma, the Council of the European Union adopted, on 28 October, a Common Position with a view to intensifying its efforts to promote progress towards democratisation and securing the immediate and unconditional release of detained prisoners.

The Common Position reaffirms the following measures already adopted against Burma: the expulsion of all military personnel attached to the diplomatic representations of Burma in member states of the EU and withdrawal of all military personnel attached to diplomatic representations of the member states of the EU in Burma; an embargo on arms, munitions and military equipment and; suspension of non-humanitarian aid or development programmes.

The Common Position introduces the following additional restrictions in relation to Burma: ban on entry visas for senior members of the SLORC and families; ban on entry visas for senior members of the military who formulate, implement or benefit from policies that impede Burma's transition to democracy, and their families; and suspension of high level bilateral governmental visits to Burma.

I am aware of the call made by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for the imposition of trade and investment sanctions on the SLORC regime. Provision has been made for review of the Common Position and consideration of possible further measures against Burma in the light of developments there. To this end, the Irish Presidency will monitor implementation of the Common Position and report regularly to Council on the matter.

Representatives of the Burma Action Group have recently met the Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Joan Burton. A separate meeting was also held with a senior official at the Department.