Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 September 2017
103. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps taken by the EU and UN to address the issue of alleged ethnic cleansing in Myanmar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40087/17]
View answerThe Government is deeply concerned about the situation in Rakhine State, in particular the violence which has ensued following attacks committed by Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army militants on 25 August. The excessive response by the security forces of Myanmar/Burma following these attacks is deeply troubling. It is critical that violence in Rakhine State be brought to an immediate end. It has led to a severe humanitarian crisis both within Myanmar, and across the border in Bangladesh, which is seeking to manage the humanitarian needs of well over 400,000 refugees. Ireland fully aligns with the statements made by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini on the 6 and 11 September, in which she called for humanitarian access to be restored and for the root causes of the issue to be addressed. During a European Parliament Debate on Myanmar on 14 September, she also criticised the excesses in the security operations carried out by the Myanmar security forces, and called for an end to the violence. The EU is working to find a solution, both in its bilateral contacts with Myanmar and via its participation in international fora, including the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council which are meeting this month in New York and Geneva. The EU has led a resolution on the human rights situation in Myanmar at the Human Rights Council on an annual basis, most recently in March 2017, in which it renewed the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar by another year.
The EU has also raised its concerns directly with the Government of Myanmar. An EU delegation led by the EEAS raised this when it met with the Myanmar authorities in Naypyidaw in early September, and the EU Delegation in Yangon continues to do so on a regular basis.
The situation in Rakhine State and the resulting humanitarian crisis has been highlighted by UN Secretary General Guterres and by High Commissioner Zeid on a number of occasions in recent weeks. The UN Security Council met on 13 September to discuss the issue. In a subsequent press briefing, the Security Council condemned the violence, welcomed the UN Secretary General’s engagement with the Government of Myanmar and called for a long-term solution in the Rakhine State.
In March this year, a Fact Finding Mission was established further to an EU-led resolution at the UN Human Rights Council to investigate allegations of human rights violations in Myanmar. Ireland has called for an extension of the mandate of the Fact Finding Mission to enable it complete its work. Ireland has also consistently supported the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Ms. Yanghee Lee, who has been actively reporting on the situation in Rakhine State.
