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Situation in Burma.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2004

Wednesday, 19 May 2004

Questions (57, 58, 59, 60)

Eamon Ryan

Question:

38 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on recent representations by the Government to the Burmese Government concerning the detention of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14673/04]

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Gerard Murphy

Question:

50 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government has had contact with the Burmese authorities in connection with the detention of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14496/04]

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Joe Costello

Question:

51 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress which been made in relation to Burma as might have justified the recognition by the Government of the military regime in that country while the imprisonment under house arrest of Aung San Su Chi continues. [14543/04]

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Simon Coveney

Question:

58 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the Government has started to refer to Burma as Myanmar in recent months; his views on the message that this may send to the military rulers of Burma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14497/04]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 50, 51 and 58 together.

Both Ireland, and our EU partners, remain strongly critical of the continued detention under house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the absence of political progress, serious and persistent human rights abuses and the lack of fundamental freedoms in Burma.

The External Relations Council of 17 and 18 May 2004 adopted conclusions on Burma, which expressed the EU's concern and deep disappointment at the failure of the Burmese authorities to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, or allow the National League for Democracy to reopen its offices. The conclusions also reiterated the EU's commitment to democratic change in Burma and our determination to work with our Asian partners to this end.

The EU Common Position on Burma, which provides for a visa ban on members of the regime and a freeze on all their financial assets in the European Union, was rolled over for a further 12 months at the External Relations Council of 26 and 27 April 2004.

Throughout our participation in the troika, and during our Presidency, Ireland has ensured that Burma is included in our political consultations with third countries. Burma was therefore included in the agenda for the EU Ministerial Troika to India on 16 February, and was discussed during the troikas at political director level with China on 26 February, and Japan on 27 February.

The EU's concerns about Burma also featured in discussions at the ASEM Foreign Ministers' meeting ASEM FMM, which I hosted in Kildare, in April 2004. Ministers said that they looked forward to the early lifting of the remaining restrictions placed on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy.

Since the ASEM Foreign Ministers' meeting, Ireland continues to work with Burma's Asian neighbours to encourage them to bring their influence to bear on Rangoon. For this reason, I decided to appoint a special envoy to the region, Mr John Campbell, who formerly served as Ireland's Permanent Representative to the European Union and the United Nations at New York, and as Ambassador to China, France and Portugal.

Deputies will be aware that the National League for Democracy, NLD, announced on 14 May 2004 that it would not participate in the National Convention, which reconvened on 17 May 2004, because of the junta's refusal to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and to reopen NLD offices.

The Government normally refers to the country as Burma, though in the press release announcing the establishment of diplomatic relations Myanmar was used as a courtesy. In EU documentation, Burma/Myanmar is the usual usage. The country is known officially at the United Nations as Myanmar.

Our goals continue to be the return of democracy to Burma, an end to human rights violations and the realisation of peace and prosperity for the long suffering people of Burma.

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