Denis Naughten
Ceist:171 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he has taken to date to obtain the release of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1557/02]
Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.
I have given details of the Government's previous action in this case, which led up to my discussions last week in China, in replies to previous parliamentary questions.
As part of my recent official visit to China, I held talks with Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, the Chinese Foreign Minister on 23 January. During the meeting I was informed that Mr. Zhao Ming would be released on 12 March and that he would, at that stage, be eligible to apply for an exit visa. I was assured that there was no physical ill-treatment of him during his period of detention, and that he received medical check-ups during his detention.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:172 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the situation regarding Christians in the Malukus region of Indonesia; and if he will bring pressure to bear on the Indonesian Government directly and through the European Union and the United Nations to bring an end to this situation. [1558/02]
The ongoing ethnic and religious tensions, and outbursts of violence in the Indonesian province of Maluku, are a matter of concern to the Govern ment. Not only have they given rise to real human suffering and humanitarian problems in the region, making reconciliation and reconstruction very difficult, but they impact on the establishment of law and order, democracy and human rights in Indonesia as a whole. The increased numbers of Lahskar Jihad militias in Maluku exacerbate this problem, fuelling religious hatred and further complicating efforts at reaching a peaceful resolution of the conflict there.
Ireland's EU partners widely share our concerns, and the EU's views on this issue have been clearly made known to the Indonesian authorities. The EU has regularly called on the Indonesian Government to make urgent efforts to address and resolve peacefully the country's internal conflicts, whether separatist or sectarian in character. The EU has underlined that the only viable way to guarantee the territorial integrity of Indonesia is for the Government to engage in a genuine dialogue with the provinces, in order to tackle the root causes of the violence.
Proinsias De Rossa
Ceist:173 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised or intends to raise the case of the stoning to death of a person (details supplied) with the Nigerian authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1586/02]
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:174 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a person (details supplied) in Nigeria; the response of the Nigerian Government to the approach made about this barbaric sentence; if he will confirm that pressure continues to be maintained about the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1587/02]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:175 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding human rights issues in Nigeria/Africa with specific reference to a person (details supplied) and correspondence sent to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1606/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 175, inclusive, together.
Deputies will recall from my reply on this issue in November that the Government has made known its very deep concern about this case to the Federal Government through the Nigerian Embassy in Dublin.
Together with our EU partners, we are closely monitoring developments in the case through our Embassies in Abuja. The federal authorities are very aware of the European Union's concern about this case which has, rightly, generated extensive public interest throughout the EU including at the individual and organisational level in Ireland.
The case is currently being appealed to the Sokoto State Supreme Court and a ruling is expected in March. Should this appeal be unsuc cessful, the individual in question is entitled to appeal to the Federal Supreme Court. We urge the Nigerian Government to respond positively to the international concerns about this case and to comply with its international human rights obligations.
Together with our EU partners and other members of the international community, the Government will continue to encourage the elected authorities in Nigeria to strengthen the protection of human rights in that country, including the rights of women.
Question No. 176 answered with Question No. 168.