Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Jan 1994

Vol. 437 No. 7

Written Answers. - Pressure on Burmese Military Junta.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

64 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the pressures, if any, he is bringing to bear on the military junta which governs Burma in defiance of the international community; and the way in which Ireland has indicated its support for Ms Aung San Suu Kai, the imprisoned democratic leader of the Burmese people.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

Ireland has strongly condemned the abuse of human rights in Burma and the failure of the military junta to respect the results of the May 1990 elections. Together with our European Union partners we have expressed our views on the situation in Burma at the United Nations General Assembly and in other international fora.

At last year's UN General Assembly Ireland co-sponsored a resolution on the human rights situation in Burma which was adopted by consensus.

The resolution,inter alia, deplored the continuing violations of human rights in Burma, and urged the Government to take all necessary steps towards the restoration of democracy in accordance with the will of the people as expressed in the 1990 elections. The resolution strongly urged the Burmese authorities to release immediately and unconditionally Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi from detention. On the fourth anniversary of her detention on 20 July last Ireland joined with our European Union partners in issuing a statement which called for the release of Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi to enable her to participate in the political process.

Ireland will continue to express our deep concern at the situation in Burma, particularly within the framework of the UN Commission on Human Rights which is shortly due to begin its 50th Session in Geneva.