Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.
Jack Wall
Ceist:
13
Mr. Wall
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the consideration, if any, given at EU level to the question of requesting EU ambassadors to visit the East Timor Leader, Xanana Gusmao, who is serving a prison sentence in Jakarta.
[16363/98]
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:
14
Mr. O'Shea
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the discussions, if any, at EU level aimed at bringing about a withdrawal of Indonesian troops from East Timor.
[16364/98]
Andrew Boylan
Ceist:
20
Mr. Boylan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the consideration, if any, he and his colleagues in the EU General Affairs Council have given to the situation in Indonesia.
[16480/98]
John Gormley
Ceist:
35
Mr. Gormley
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
whether his attention has been drawn to the deteriorating political and human rights situation in East Timor; whether he has been in touch with the Indonesian Government to register the concerns of the Irish Government and Irish people in this regard; the plans, if any, he has to visit the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16430/98]
Dan Neville
Ceist:
97
Mr. Neville
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will outline details of the intervention made by him and EU counterparts to raise the issue of justice and human rights in East Timor following the political changes in Indonesia.
[16646/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 14, 20, 35 and 97 together.
The political and economic situation in Indonesia has been changing rapidly in recent months. The European Council meeting in Cardiff on 15/16 June encouraged the new Indonesian President, Mr. B. J. Habibie, to implement his commitment to political and economic reform and his stated intention to hold early elections next year and to honour all foreign commitments. Similar conclusions, stressing the need for reform, were previously agreed at the General Affairs Council meetings held in Brussels on 25 May and in Luxembourg on 8 June.
There is no doubt that recent developments in Indonesia will have an important impact on the situation in East Timor. A window of opportunity may therefore be opening up which may allow the longstanding problem of East Timor to be dealt with in a fair and equitable manner. Every encouragement must accordingly be given to the Indonesian Government to meet its obligations under the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and to grant the East Timorese people their rights under international law.
On 27 May I issued a statement calling for the release of the jailed East Timor resistance leader, Xanana Gusmao, and all other political prisoners in Indonesia. Shortly afterwards, the British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr Derek Fatchett, travelled to Jakarta on behalf of the EU Presidency and succeeded in securing a meeting with the prisoner himself. There are no plans at present, however, for a visit to be made to Mr Gusmao by the EU Ambassadors in Jakarta.
The question of Mr Gusmao's release has also been raised at the EU Council of Ministers and at the European Council meeting in Cardiff on 15/16 June. The European Council called on Indonesia to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and sought the release of all political prisoners, including Xanana Gusmao and others from East Timor.
Ireland and our partners in the EU would very much favour the disengagement of Indonesian military contingents from East Timor. President Habibie has in fact already indicated a willingness to engage in a phased withdrawal of troops but it is not clear precisely when and under what conditions he may be willing to proceed with this proposal.
The Indonesian authorities can be in no doubt about the strength of the Governments views on the question of East Timor and on the deplorable human rights situation that exists in the territory. While I have no plans at present to make a visit to the region, I intend to avail of every appropriate opportunity to raise the issue with my colleagues from the EU and other countries on all suitable occasions.
Jim Higgins
Ceist:
15
Mr. Higgins (Mayo)
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if the United States authorities briefed the Irish Government in advance of President Clinton's recent visit to China.
[16467/98]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:
70
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
whether his attention has been drawn to recent arrests of pro-democracy activists by the Government of China; whether he has been in touch with the Chinese authorities to protest at these abuses of fundamental human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16431/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 70 together.
Directly prior to President Clinton's visit to China, I had the opportunity to accompany President McAleese to a meeting in Washington with Mr. Clinton and his Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright. I was fortunate to have a brief exchange of views with President Clinton on that occasion regarding his forthcoming trip.
I am aware that certain pro-democracy activists were arrested last month by the Chinese Government. This is an action which I very much regret and I can only hope that they will be released without delay. There is reason to believe, nevertheless, that the human rights situation in China has improved somewhat as a result of the increased level of dialogue which has been undertaken with China by the European Union, the United States and other countries in recent times. This week's official visit by President Clinton to China can be regarded as part of this process and is to be welcomed. The public remarks made by the President on the question of human rights can only have a positive impact on the appropriate development of Chinese society and the promotion of civil liberties.
It is to be hoped and expected that the ongoing EU-China human rights dialogue — at which individual cases of human rights violations are regularly raised — will lead also to a genuine commitment on the part of China to promote the conditions where full respect for human rights will be possible.
