Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Oct 1995

Vol. 457 No. 2

Written Answers. - Human Rights in Kenya.

Eric J. Byrne

Ceist:

53 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Kenya; the representations, if any, made to the Kenyan authorities in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15091/95]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The Government is deeply concerned about the continued deterioration in the political and human rights situation in Kenya which includes the detention of opposition figures as well as restrictions on the activities of political parties, NGOs and the freedom of the press.

Together with our partners in the EU in the past we have made a number of representations to the Kenyan authorities, voicing our concern at the human rights situation in the country. In August 1994 the Government supported a démarche by the European Union to the Kenyan Attorney General voicing its concerns about the trial of human rights activist Koigi wa Wamwere. The EU also made a démarche to the Kenyan Minister for Foreign Affairs on 7 February last in response to the manner in which his Government was addressing ethnic tensions at local level which had included the forced relocation of ethnic groups.

At the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva in February Ireland and the member states of the EU called on the Kenyan Government to take measures to alleviate ethnic tensions in consultation with the UNDP and all concerned parties. In August of this year we joined our EU partners in issuing a declaration which denounced the intimidation of opposition leaders as well as journalists in an incident in Nakuru on 10 August. We highlighted the incident as yet another serious disturbance of the political climate and emphasised that this did not serve the interests of the Kenyan people. An EU troika démarche was made to the Kenyan authorities in support of the declaration on 22 August.

The Government will continue to do everything possible, in co-operation with our EU partners, to increase pressure on the Kenyan authorities to implement the democratic process and to bring about the full recognition of human rights.