Vol. 544 No. 5
9 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the position of political prisoners being held in Burma including members of the Parliament elect imprisoned for their pro-democracy stance; and his further views on the death in Kale Prison of a person (details supplied). [29259/01]
95 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in Burma; the extent to which he has used his influence in a positive way to improve the situation there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29428/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 95 together.
The people of Burma expressed their democratic will in elections in 1990. However, the military refused to accept the wishes of the people. Since then, many of those chosen to represent the Burmese people have been imprisoned. There have been systematic violations of the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Burmese people by the military regime. In common with most EU partners and the majority of nations, Ireland does not have diplomatic relations with Burma because of the military regime in Rangoon.
I am aware of the death in July of Khin Maung Myint. He was one of the youth leaders of the National League for Democracy and was arrested in 1997 and sentenced to eight years in prison for attempting to hold a meeting with the leader of the National League for Democracy – Aung San Suu Kyi. Reports indicated that he was in good health before his arrest. Kale prison in which he was held is notorious for its inappropriate accommodation and improper food. His untimely death further reinforces the urgency of the release of political prisoners.
The visit to Burma in October of Mr. Sergio Pinheiro, the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma, and the statement he delivered to the General Assembly, provided some encouragement. In the past 12 months, there have been confidence building contacts between the military regime and the National League for Democracy. More than 160 political prisoners have been released since the beginning of 2001. However, the fact remains that 21 members of Parliament chosen by the Burmese people in the democratic elections in 1990, are among the 1,800 people still imprisoned.
A high-level team from the International Labour Organisation visited Burma in September and I understand that it was reasonably satisfied with the level of co-operation received from the military regime. The purpose of the visit was to objectively assess the implementation by the military regime of measures to eliminate forced labour. The International Labour Organisation adopted an unprecedented resolution in June 2000 calling on Burma to take concrete action to implement the recommendations of a 1998 commission of inquiry which found that resort to forced labour in the country was "widespread and systematic."
The situation in Burma is addressed on an ongoing basis by the EU. During Ireland's EU presidency in 1996, the EU adopted a common position on Burma which introduced certain restrictive measures against the regime. Since then this has been kept under ongoing review. The EU has also made known to the regime and others its readiness to assist in promoting dialogue between the sides, but so far this offer has not been accepted.
The UN Commission on Human Rights, the General Assembly and the International Labour Organisation have all condemned the policies and practices of the military regime. At the current session of the UN General Assembly, Ireland, together with all EU partners, is co-sponsoring a resolution on the situation in Burma. This sets out comprehensively our concerns in respect of the many matters which need urgently to be addressed there.
In 1992 the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, appointed a special rapporteur on human rights in Burma and has tried to facilitate dialogue between the military regime and the democratic forces by the appointment of special envoys.
I hope the military junta will follow up on the initial positive steps it has taken in the past 12 months and engage in meaningful dialogue with the democratic representatives in Burma. Together with our EU partners, Ireland will continue to impress upon the military regime the absolute necessity of a return to democratic government.
I am pleased with the Minister's answer. However, I take it he will share the concern held on all sides of the House that in the first years of the 21st century we are stilling hearing about what is, effectively, forced slave labour. The military regime in Myanmar/Burma must rank as one of the most odious of its kind. While I accept that diplomatic efforts are being made, I hope the Minister will agree that there is a need for additional pressure.
The Deputy should ask a question.
The Minister sits on the Security Council. Is he aware of any additional measures which are about to the taken? We will discuss sanctions in a later question. Are sanctions of any form being considered against this odious regime?
The death of a young man in custody illustrates the perilous state of the Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi. Is the Minister aware of anything that is being done to further the cause of democracy in that troubled state?
Unfortunately, some countries, including permanent members of the UN Security Council, consider the situation in Burma to be a purely internal one and would not consider it appropriate for discussion at the Council. There would, therefore, be no agreement to place the issue on the Council's agenda. The wider issue of slavery must be considered, however. It is estimated there are up to 20 million slaves in the world. We thought slavery was a concept belonging to earlier centuries but the fact is that at the beginning of the 21st century over 20 million people are involved in bonded labour and other forms of slavery, including the sex industry.
Notice taken that 20 Members were not present; House counted and 20 Members being present,
The Minister was dealing with Question No. 9 and he has 30 seconds left.
It is sad to state that, based on UN estimates, up to 20 million people are still enslaved in the world. As recently as 1998, the Burmese regime was condemned by an International Labour Organisation commission of inquiry as having been involved in the widespread and systematic use of forced labour. For that reason it is a regime with which we do not associate. The UN Secretary General is trying his level best to encourage some dialogue between the regime and the democratically elected members of the Burmese parliament, many of whom have been in prison since 1990, to ensure that the basic rights of the Burmese people are respected.
