Chemical Weapons

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 February 2019

Wednesday, 13 February 2019

Questions (74)

Seán Crowe

Question:

74. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to reports that the Indonesian armed forces have been accused of deploying chemical weapons suspected to be white phosphorus, banned under international law in West Papua (details supplied); if he will request that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons investigate the issue as a matter of priority; and if he will raise the issue with his Indonesian counterpart. [7294/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am concerned by recent reports of escalating violence and tensions in West Papua, Indonesia in late 2018. I am also aware of an unverified news report in December 2018 indicating that the Indonesian armed forces deployed weapons suspected to be white phosphorus in Nduga, West Papua in late 2018. The Government of Indonesia has denied these allegations.

Incendiary weapons, including white phosphorus, are not considered under international law to be chemical weapons. They are however prohibited for use against civilian populations under Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. Ireland is a party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and to all of its Protocols, including Protocol III.

Ireland condemns any such use in the strongest possible terms and calls on all States who have not already done so to accede to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, and to all of its Protocols, as soon as possible.

Officials in my Department, including in our Embassy in Jakarta, will continue to closely monitor the situation in West Papua.