Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 September 2004
107 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government makes representations to the Chinese authorities with respect to the ongoing persecution of activists and dissidents during the fifteenth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. [23169/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra112 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government made representations to the Chinese authorities with respect to the disappearance of a person (details supplied). [23175/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 112 together.
I am aware of reports that Dr. Jiang Yanyong disappeared on 1 June 2004, just before the fifteenth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre on 4 June. Dr. Jiang had, in March 2003, revealed the real extent of the SARS epidemic crisis in China. It is reported that prior to his disappearance this year, Dr. Jiang had written a letter to the Chinese leadership denouncing the Tiananmen Square massacres and calling for the rehabilitation of the 1989 pro-democracy movement. I understand from subsequent reports that Dr. Jiang was released after seven weeks detention on 20 July last, and is reported to be in good health.
The Government takes the issue of respect for human rights very seriously, and regularly, and on an ongoing basis, raises human rights with the Chinese Government. The Taoiseach raised the issue of human rights with the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, during his visit to Ireland in May 2004. During his discussions, he outlined Ireland's strong commitment to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Both sides agreed on the importance of co-operation and dialogue in working together to bring about respect for international obligations. In his capacity as President of the EU Council, my predecessor also raised human rights concerns during the EU Foreign Ministers troika meeting with China in Kildare on 19 April 2004.
The EU also discusses key human rights concerns with China within the framework of the EU-China human rights dialogue, which is held twice a year. During these meetings, individual and specific cases of concern are raised with the Chinese authorities. The most recent round of the EU-China human rights dialogue took place on 24 September 2004. On that occasion, the EU raised concerns over a number of persons who were arrested both on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, and during the massacre in 1989. During the Irish Presidency and in conjunction with our EU partners, we organised the first EU-China seminar on the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which took place in Beijing on 30 June and 1 July last. The purpose of the seminar was to provide technical assistance to China in preparation for their ratification of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.
Officials in my Department, both in Dublin and Beijing, will continue to monitor the human rights situation in China on an ongoing basis, and we will continue to raise the matter in our contacts with China.
108 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s position on the need for a review of the UN’s conduct in relation to the Act of Free Choice 1968-69 in West Papua. [23170/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs my predecessor has stated on many occasions, the question of a review of the Act of FreeChoice in Papua would require the support of UN member states. Inquiries made by our permanent representative to the UN confirm that, at present, there is no significant support for such an initiative. The most productive approach to dealing with the situation of the people of Papua is therefore through contact with the Government of Indonesia. There is, moreover, a possibility that pursuing the issue of the Act of Free Choice would prejudice ongoing efforts to develop a meaningful dialogue with the Government in Jakarta, and would not contribute to the amelioration of the current situation of the Papuan people.
While acknowledging Indonesia's legitimate concern to preserve its territorial integrity, we continue to encourage the Government of Indonesia to strengthen its efforts to address the legitimate aspirations of the people of Papua. In this regard, I welcome the commitment expressed by President elect Yudhoyono of Indonesia to implement the special autonomy law for Papua. This law dates from November 2001 but has not yet been implemented. It provides for a greater degree of autonomy for Papua than for Indonesia's other provinces.
At my predecessor's request, he met my Indonesian counterpart, Mr. Noor Hassan Wirajuda, in the margins of the UN General Assembly on 23 September 2004. My predecessor used the occasion to express Ireland's continuing concerns about the situation in Papua. These concerns had previously been raised with Minister Wirajuda when my predecessor met him in April 2004, during an EU troika meeting, and again in January 2003, in the margins of the EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting. Minister Wirajuda took note of our concerns and expressed his belief that the special autonomy law will satisfy the aspirations of the overwhelming majority of the people in Papua. He said autonomy remains the settled policy of the Government of Indonesia and that the strengthened democracy in Indonesia, following successful presidential and legislative elections, would increase autonomy. My predecessor made it clear that we would be carefully monitoring the situation in this regard.
Inquiries were also made at that meeting as to the status of the proposal to divide Papua into three provinces. A discussion of Indonesia is planned for the October meeting of the EU External Relations Council. Officials of my Department regularly discuss the situation in Papua with their counterparts from Indonesia, representatives of various Papuan NGOs, as well as from third countries, such as Australia and the United States.
Ireland, together with its EU partners, will continue to support the development of a strengthened partnership and effective dialogue between the EU and Indonesia. As I have said, the Government sees this as the most effective framework at this time for addressing our concerns about the situation in Papua.
