Jim Mitchell
Ceist:27 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the views the Government and the EU take of the situation in Burma. [4290/00]
Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:86 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ireland's attitude to the illegal military dictatorship in Burma, Myanmar; if his attention has been drawn to the UN report alleging that the military regime condones murder, rape and forced labour amounting to slavery; if Ireland supports the position of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy won over 80% of the vote in the last elections; his views on the fact that the EU common position is not resulting in any progress towards democracy or human rights in Burma; and if he will take an initiative particularly through the European Union to have Burma isolated with appropriate sanctions until democracy and human rights are restored there. [4187/00]
Ivor Callely
Ceist:94 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the political and human rights situation in Burma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4736/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 86 and 94 together.
The situation in Burma is a matter of profound concern to the Government and to the EU. The military regime has failed to respect the results of the last elections which were held there. It has since imposed measures to hinder the activities of political parties and the development of a civil society, and is doing nothing to ease these measures.
I am aware of the findings of various UN inquiries, including those to which the Deputy refers, which describe the unacceptable situation. The Burmese military regime has failed to act on the recommendations of subsequent resolutions in both the Commission of Human Rights and the General Assembly of the United Nations.
How can this situation be changed? The European Union remains convinced that a solution will be found only when the military regime decides to enter into meaningful dialogue with Madam Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the National League for Democracy.
This is the background to the common position which the European Union first defined on Burma in October 1996. The terms of the common position contain a number of sanctions against the regime and its members. In view of the failure of the Burmese regime to respond constructively to its terms, the common position has been extended repeatedly for a number of six month periods, with the most recent extension dating from October 1999.
The EU has also sought to persuade the Burmese military regime to engage in dialogue with the National League for Democracy by suggesting to it various practical steps and confidence building measures which could start this process. An evaluation of the response of the regime – which so far has been disappointing – will take place when the common position is reviewed in April. In the light of the situation, I shall urge that the next review should be comprehensive.