Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 Jun 1994

Vol. 443 No. 5

Written Answers. - Delegation to East Timor.

Alan M. Dukes

Ceist:

18 Mr. Dukes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to send a delegation from Ireland to visit East Timor, including members of the East Timor Ireland Solidarity Group, to examine the situation with regard to human rights in East Timor.

Charles Flanagan

Ceist:

27 Mr. Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to send a delegation from Ireland to visit East Timor, including members of the East Timor Ireland Solidarity Group to examine the situation with regard to human rights in East Timor.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

44 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to send a delegation from Ireland to visit East Timor, including members of the East Timor Ireland Solidarity Group to examine the situation with regard to human rights in East Timor.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 27 and 44 together.

The House will be aware that the Government has consistently and forcefully condemned human rights abuses in East Timor and we have used all avenues open to us to bring this concern to the attention of the Indonesian authorities and to see action at international level.

Bilaterally we have conveyed our concerns directly to the Indonesian Government. I have written to the Indonesian Foreign Minister. My Department has taken up the matter with representatives of the Indonesian Embassy. Officials of my Department have frequently met with individuals and representatives of groups concerned with the human rights situation in East Timor. Most recently Ireland's Ambassador to Indonesia, who is resident in Canberra, has visited Djakarta and has made further representations directly to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry. In addition, I maintain close contact with my colleague the Foreign Minister of Portugal who is engaged in discussions with his Indonesian counterpart under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General.

At the international level Ireland has been active at the UN Commission on Human Rights and within the European Union in pressing for action to improve the human rights situation.

After the most recent meeting on 6 May between the Portuguese and Indonesian Foreign Ministers the UN Secretary-General said that he was encouraged that there will be increased access to East Timor for the United Nations, for human rights and humanitarian organisations, as well as for journalists. The two Ministers agreed that such access and visits should be continued and further expanded.

In the light of the actions I have just outlined the Indonesian Government can be in no doubt about the deep concern of the Irish Government and people at the situation in East Timor. We will continue to press the Indonesian authorities to co-operate with the international community and to allow improved access to East Timor. I have no plans at the moment to send a delegation from Ireland to East Timor but I am considering a visit there by an official from our Embassy.