Vol. 487 No. 3
112 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Colombia (details supplied); and if he will set out the Government's position on the matter including the steps, if any, that have been taken to deal with this issue. [4019/98]
113 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that aerial bombardments of the civilian population by the Colombian airforce are quite common and have been well documented by human rights groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4034/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together.
The appalling human rights situation in Colombia is of serious concern to Ireland and our partners in the European Union. As Amnesty International has made clear, the human rights crisis continues to worsen as the long running armed conflict intensifies. Amnesty International has also noted that although the numbers of human rights abuses directly attributable to the armed forces has decreased in recent years, there has been an increase in the numbers of abuses committed by paramilitary and vigilante groups operating with their support or acquiescence. The former Minister, Mr. Ray Burke, met the Colombian Foreign Minister, Senora Maria Emma Mejia Velez, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 22 September 1997 and took the opportunity to express Ireland's deep concern about the situation in Colombia, the widespread abuses of human rights and attacks on human rights workers.
On 25 September 1997, the Luxembourg Presidency issued on behalf of the European Union a declaration on the political and human rights situation in Colombia. The EU reiterated its strong support for the recommendations made by the UN Commission on Human Rights in reports drawn up following visits to Colombia and urged all parties to avoid a worsening of the problem of displaced persons.
