Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004
157 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps being taken bilaterally and through the EU and UN to protest against the actions of the Government of Burma in extending the house arrest of a person (details supplied) and to highlight the need for a restoration of the democratic process in Burma. [33649/04]
View answerOn 2 December 2004, I issued a statement condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the decision of the Burmese Government the previous day to extend the detention under house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi for another year. I also called on the Burmese Government to allow the UN Secretary General's special envoy, Mr. Razali Ismail, to travel to Burma at the earliest opportunity and, while there, to visit Aung San Suu Kyi. The EU Presidency also issued a declaration on 10 December 2004 condemning the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi.
As I have stated many times in the House, the Government has pursued a strong and consistent line in support of democracy in Burma. Both Ireland and our EU partners remain strongly critical of the continued detention under house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, other activists, and a number of MPs elected in the elections of 1990. We have also been critical of the absence of political progress, serious and persistent human rights abuses and the lack of fundamental freedoms in Burma.
While I welcome the continuing release by the Burmese Government of a large number of prisoners — reports suggest more than 14,000 have been freed to date over the past month — I regret that this includes only a limited number of political prisoners.
The issue of Burma is raised in all our bilateral political contacts with relevant third countries, particularly Burma's Asian neighbours. Most recently, I raised the issue of Burma with Vice-Premier Huang Ju of China during official talks on 16 November 2004. The Taoiseach raised our concerns about Burma at the fifth ASEM Summit, which took place from 7 to 9 October in Hanoi. The Taoiseach, in his intervention, questioned why Aung San Suu Kyi has not been released, and why there has not been greater progress towards democracy in Burma.
During our EU Presidency, the Government ensured that the issue of Burma was regularly discussed in consultations with interested third countries. I am pleased that this practice has been carried forward by the Netherlands Presidency. The issue of Burma was, for example, discussed at the EU-China Summit held at The Hague on 8 December 2004.
The Government's continuing goal, and that of the EU, remains the release and restoration of liberty to Aung San Suu Kyi, 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.
158 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason he is prepared to support the lifting of the EU embargo on the sale of arms to China in view of his concerns regarding human rights in that country. [33789/04]
View answerThe Government continues to examine this issue with our EU partners in the context of our overall relationship with China, our ongoing commitment to human rights and the broader regional and international context. The Government's approach has been conveyed to the Chinese authorities, most recently during talks with Vice-Premier Huang Ju on 16 November 2004, and also by the Taoiseach during his discussions with Premier Wen when they met in the margins of the ASEM summit in Hanoi on 9 October 2004.
At the EU-China Summit held on 8 December 2004 the EU confirmed its political will to continue to work towards lifting the embargo. The Chinese side welcomed this positive signal and considered it beneficial to the sound development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU. The EU reaffirmed that work on strengthening the application of the European Union code of conduct on arms exports was continuing.
The matter was again discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 13 December 2004 in the context of follow-up to the EU-China Summit. Ministers welcomed the outcome of the summit and agreed to continue to work towards lifting the embargo. This will involve completing work on strengthening the EU code of conduct on arms exports. In addition, the Union would hope for further demonstration by the Chinese authorities of their good intentions as regards human rights.
As has been consistently stated, Ireland and our EU partners take concerns about human rights in China very seriously. These matters are regularly and on an ongoing basis raised with the Chinese Government. Human rights issues were raised with China during the recent EU-China Summit. The leaders underlined the importance of concrete steps in the field of human rights and reaffirmed their commitment further to enhance co-operation and exchanges in this field on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
Human rights concerns are also raised at a bilateral level. Most recently, the Tánaiste, Deputy Harney, and I held official talks with the Chinese Vice-Premier, Mr Huang Ju, in Dublin Castle on 16 November 2004, during which we again raised our concerns with regard to human rights with the Vice-Premier. The Chinese Vice-Premier, in response, informed us of the measures his government is taking in the field of human rights, including the addition of an express provision on human rights to China's constitution earlier this year.
During the Irish Presidency and in conjunction with our EU partners we organised the first EU-China seminar on the ratification of the international covenant on civil and political rights, ICCPR, which took place in Beijing on 30 June and 1 July 2004. The purpose of the seminar was to provide technical assistance to China in preparation for their ratification of the ICCPR. A subsequent EU-China seminar on the ratification of the ICCPR took place in The Hague on 8 and 9 November 2004.
The EU-China human rights dialogue established in 1996 is the agreed formal framework through which the EU raises its concerns about individual human rights cases and more general issues, such as the protection of freedom of religion and expression. The most recent round of the EU-China human rights dialogue took place in Beijing on 24 September 2004. Ireland, together with our EU partners, will continue to keep these matters under review and encourage the Chinese authorities to respect fully human rights.
159 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the case of persons (details supplied) with the US authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33817/04]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my answer of 7 December 2004 to a question on this issue.
