Gerard Collins
Ceist:52 Mr. Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the differences of principle, if any, apparent in the Irish Government's attitude to the East Timor and Tibet situations. [18311/95]
Written Answers. - East Timor and Tibet.
Colm M. Hilliard
Ceist:54 Mr. Hilliard asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent efforts in relation to the situation in East Timor. [18323/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 54 together.
Today is the twentieth anniversary of the invasion of East Timor by Indonesia. It is, therefore, opportune for me to express again the Government's deep concern over the continuing violations of human rights in East Timor.
The Deputies will be aware of the article on East Timor which I contributed toThe Irish Times on 13 July 1995, a copy of which is available in the Library of the Houses of the Oireachtas. In the course of that article I indicated that Ireland has been and will continue to be an advocate for the case of East Timor. During this present week, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Jose Ayala Lasso, is visiting Indonesia and East Timor. I await with interest Mr. Ayala Lasso's report following his current fact-finding visit there.
The Government has supported and continue to attach importance to the ongoing talks between the Foreign Ministers of Portugal and Indonesia which take place under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. The next round of talks is scheduled for mid-January 1996. The Government have also welcomed the first all-inclusive, intra-Timorese dialogue meeting which took place in Austria in June 1995 and we hope that further meetings of this new forum will take place.
Deputies will recall that on 25 September 1995, while attending the 50th Session of the UN General Assembly, I had occasion to meet with the Indonesian Foreign Minister when I had the opportunity to express views, on behalf of the Government, in relation to East Timor.
In relation to the questions of East Timor and Tibet, Ireland has advocated two important principles: the need for dialogue to seek a solution to the underlying problems which require redress; and the need for full respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the peoples concerned, including their cultural rights and freedom of worship.
Differences necessarily arise in the application of Irish policy because of the differences in the two situations which exist.
East Timor was a colony of Portugal until 1975. Following the declaration of independence made by the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN) in November 1975, Indonesia invaded East Timor on 7 December 1975 and sought to annex it in July 1976. The United Nations continues to view Portugal as the administering power of the territory and both the UN Security Council and General Assembly have adopted resolutions condemning the Indonesian invasion. Ireland subscribes to the view of the United Nations on this matter.
When Ireland established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1979, the Government of Ireland recognised the Government of the people's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. At the time the Chinese position was that China included Tibet. That is still their position.
I have raised on many occasions, on behalf of the Government, the question of human rights and the treatment of prisoners in Tibet with the Chinese authorities.
Most recently, I had an opportunity to do so directly with Vice-Premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs Qian Qichen during his visit to Dublin on 6 October 1995.