Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.
John Gormley
Ceist:
227
Mr. Gormley
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if his attention has been drawn to reports of beatings in custody of five persons, including a person (details supplied) detained by the Indonesian military in the West Papuan town of Wamena; if he has raised the issue with the Indonesian Government; and if he has had contacts with that Government in relation to repeated reports of torture in military custody.
[12609/03]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
228
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the action he has taken or proposes to take in relation to the current human rights abuses in West Papua; his particular initiatives to highlight this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12644/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 228 together.
On a number of occasions recently, I have set out the Government's position with respect to the situation in Papua. With respect to the particular case raised by Deputy Gormley, I am aware of reports on the arrest of Mr. Tabuni, with others, on 6 April 2003, and of the allegations that the detainees were beaten while in custody. Ireland, together with our EU partners, supports the development of a strengthened dialogue and partnership between the EU and Indonesia as the best means by which to address our concerns. I have asked my officials to stress the importance which Ireland attaches to the issue of human rights in Papua in their ongoing contacts with Indonesian representatives.
At the recent meeting of the External Relations Council which I attended on 14 April 2003, Ireland, together with our EU colleagues, adopted revised Council conclusions on Indonesia. These conclusions reaffirmed the importance which we attach to the promotion and protection of human rights in Indonesia. The conclusions stressed the importance of bringing all perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and also emphasised the importance of actively promoting peaceful solutions to the internal conflicts in Indonesia, including that of Papua. The conclusions stressed the importance of the full implementation of the letter, and spirit, of the special autonomy laws in Papua, and Aceh. Clarification was sought on the implementation of the special autonomy law for Papua, and the recent presidential decree, which divided Papua into three provinces. The Council expressed concern also at the delays on the Indonesian side in accepting international support for the implementation of the special autonomy law.
Deputies will remember that I have reported previously on my meeting with the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr. Wirajuda, at the EU-ASEAN foreign ministers meeting at Brussels, in January 2003, when I raised issues of particular concern such as respect for human rights, and the tensions in Papua, and I made the point that these matters impact on our national perception of Indonesia. I understand that my colleague, Deputy Kitt, Minister of State with responsibility for overseas development and human rights, will meet with representatives of the West Papua Action Group later this month, and that these issues may be reviewed further then. The Government will continue to monitor closely the situation in Papua, and will continue to encourage the authorities in Indonesia to act with due regard to the rights and interests of the people of Papua.
