Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2005
202 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a report from Saudi Arabia regarding the sentencing of 35 persons to flogging and imprisonment following their attendance at a gay partnership ceremony; if he has raised this matter with the Saudi Arabian authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14901/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraSharia, the law of the land in Saudi Arabia, permits corporal and capital punishment, and prohibits many activities which we would regard as matters of personal and private conduct. The Saudi Arabian authorities interpret the universal concept of human rights through the principles of Islam. Public criticism of Islam, including the Sharia law, is strictly prohibited.
In our ongoing contacts with the authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ireland and our EU partners have conveyed our concerns on human rights issues, and impressed upon them the negative impact which such practices have on public perceptions in Europe.
I am aware of the reports referred to by the Deputy. Inquiries are ongoing among EU partners to determine the facts.
204 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in relation to the cases of 15 former members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (details supplied); if he will make a statement on the role he can play in the matter. [15081/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government, and our partners in the European Union, have followed closely the cases of the Kurdish political representatives referred to by the Deputy. I am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter Parliamentary Union adopted a resolution on these cases at its meeting in Manila on 8 April 2005.
Of the 15 former members of the Turkish Parliament mentioned, perhaps the most prominent case has been that of Ms Leyla Zana and three other members of the Democracy Party, DEP, who were elected in 1991. Ms Zana, Mr. Hatip Dicle, Mr. Orhan Dogan and Mr. Selim Sadak were arrested in March 1994 on charges of violating electoral law and membership of an armed organisation. They were sentenced to a 15 year prison term in December 1994. Following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in June 2001 that they had not received a fair trial, a retrial opened in the Ankara State Security Court in March 2003. The verdict was upheld in a ruling by the court in April 2004. Ireland, as EU Presidency, issued a declaration on behalf of the European Union expressing the Union's deep disappointment at the decision. Following a further appeal, the four were released in June 2004. Their conviction was overturned by the appeals court the following month. It is important to note that the State security courts, which handled this case, were abolished in July 2004. A second retrial of the case opened in December 2004 and the next hearing is scheduled for 23 May 2005.
The EU is monitoring developments in this case closely. It is essential that Ms Zana and her colleagues receive a fair trial on this occasion Deputies will be aware that the delegation from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs which visited Turkey last November had the opportunity to meet with Ms Leyla Zana and her three colleagues at our embassy in Ankara. The Government continued to monitor the human rights situation in Turkey in cooperation with its partners in the EU and through the embassy in Ankara. Human rights issues are raised regularly in our contacts with the Turkish authorities, at political and official level. Turkey has been a candidate for membership of the Union since December 1999. In recent years, and in particular since the election of the Government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, there has been very significant progress in the adoption of wide-ranging political reforms. These have included important legislative and constitutional reforms to protect freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and measures to enhance the cultural rights of all citizens, including the estimated 15 million people of Kurdish ethnic origin.
The European Council in Brussels on 16-17 December 2004 decided that Turkey sufficiently fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria to enable the opening of accession negotiations. It decided that work should begin on a negotiating framework, with a view to the opening of negotiations on 3 October 2005. The pace of Turkey's accession negotiations will depend in large part on continued progress in the implementation of the reform programme. In our contacts with the Turkish Government, we will continue to emphasise the central importance of full implementation of all aspects of Turkey's reform legislation. The Government and our partners in the Union will also continue to highlight the need for further work in a number of areas, including women's rights, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion. Turkey's accession process, which will inevitably be a lengthy one, will contribute to the further strengthening of the reform process and to the continued improvement of the situation of the Kurdish population.
205 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in relation to the case of a person (details supplied); if he will make a statement on the role he can play in relation to the matter. [15082/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraMs Merve Safa Kavakci was elected to the Turkish Grand National Assembly in the general election held on 18 April 1999. She represented a constituency in Istanbul, as a member of the main Islamist political group at the time, the Fazilet (Virtue) Party. At the first meeting of the new parliament, Ms Kavakci was prevented from taking the oath when other representatives protested that she was illegally wearing a headscarf. She was subsequently deprived of her Turkish citizenship, on the grounds that she is also a US citizen. In March 2001, she lost her parliamentary seat when her name was removed from the parliamentary records. Three months later, the constitutional court dissolved the Virtue Party on the basis that its Islamist character was incompatible with the secular constitution of Turkey. In 2001, Ms Kavakci filed an application with the European Court of Human Rights, challenging the decision to revoke her nationality and her parliamentary membership. I understand that a decision of the court on the admissibility of the case is pending. I am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter Parliamentary Union adopted a resolution on the case of Ms Kavakci, at its meeting in Manila on 8 April 2005.
In recent years, and in particular since the election of the Government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has made very significant progress in the adoption of wide-ranging political reforms. Important human rights reforms have been introduced, including legislation to protect freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, and the rights of women. Turkey has been a candidate for membership of the European Union since December 1999. The European Council in Brussels on 16-17 December 2004 decided that Turkey sufficiently fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria to enable the opening of accession negotiations. It requested the Commission to begin work on a proposal for a negotiating framework and to present it to the council, with a view to the opening of negotiations on 3 October 2005.
The Government is working with its partners in the Union, and with Turkey, to ensure that all the elements are in place for the successful opening of accession negotiations in October. The pace of the negotiations will depend in large part on continued progress in the implementation of Turkey's reform programme. In all our contacts with the Turkish Government, we will continue to emphasise the central importance of full implementation of all aspects of Turkey's reform legislation. The EU will also continue to highlight the need for further work in a number of areas, including women's rights, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion.
206 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in relation to 33 Zimbabwean parliamentarians (details supplied); if he will make a statement on the role he can play in the matter. [15083/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 33 Zimbabwean parliamentarians referred to have all reportedly been subject to various forms of harassment, arbitrary arrest and imprisonment by the Zimbabwean authorities. Regrettably, this is a pattern of intimidation of opposition politicians which has obtained in Zimbabwe for several years now where the overall human rights situation continues to deteriorate. Ireland and its EU partners have taken the lead internationally in highlighting the serious human rights situation in Zimbabwe and are active in pressing for the repeal of repressive legislation and an end to attacks on basic freedoms by the Zimbabwean authorities. It has been made clear that, until such time as there are genuine moves by the Zimbabwean Government to restore democracy, improve respect for human rights and engage in a meaningful political dialogue with opposition parties such as the MDC, there is no basis for positively reviewing or amending the EU Common Position on Zimbabwe which since February 2002 has imposed restrictive measures against the members of the ruling Zimbabwean elite. The initiative, therefore, remains very much with the Zimbabwean Government in this matter and I strongly urge them to respond in a positive fashion.
With regard to the situation of Mr. Roy Bennett, the former Movement for Democratic Change member of the Zimbabwean Parliament, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 90 of 28 April 2005.
207 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in relation to the ongoing cases of assassinations, deaths in custody and parliamentarians in detention or imprisoned in Myanmar (details supplied); if he will make a statement on the role he can play in the matter. [15084/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, adopted a resolution on 8 April 2005 concerning 23 parliamentarians in Burma, 15 of whom are reportedly in detention, six of whom are reported to have died in custody and two of whom are reported to have been assassinated.
Together with our EU partners, the Government has consistently condemned the lack of progress towards democracy in Burma and the continuing abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms in that country. Most recently, the EU Troika of Foreign Ministers met with the Burmese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. U Nyan Win, in the margins of the Asia-Europe Meeting, ASEM, of Foreign Ministers in Kyoto, Japan, on 7 May 2005. The troika expressed concern about the situation in Burma and called on the Burmese authorities to enter into a constructive dialogue with the opposition National League for Democracy, NLD, other legitimate representative bodies and ethnic groups. The troika also called for the release of all political prisoners and presented a list of 19 political prisoners, which the EU would like to see freed immediately on humanitarian grounds, to the Burmese authorities. The troika further appealed to the Burmese authorities to establish permanent and sincere co-operation with the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Burma, Mr. Razali Ismail, the special rapporteur on the situation on human rights in Burma, Mr. Sergios Pinheiro and with all relevant UN agencies. The Burmese Foreign Minister agreed to study the list of political prisoners and the demands expressed by the EU.
At the opening session of the ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting on 6 May, European and Asian Foreign Ministers collectively expressed to the Burmese Foreign Minister, their concern at the situation in Burma and expressed the expectation that all restrictions on the democratisation process will be lifted at the earliest possible opportunity. Ireland was represented at the ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche. The Minister urged the Burmese authorities to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. He also expressed Ireland's grave disappointment and concern that the Burmese authorities had failed to create the conditions for political parties to participate in the national convention, now in recess.
On 14 April 2005, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights passed without a vote a resolution introduced by the EU and co-sponsored by Ireland, criticising systematic violation of human rights in Burma, calling for the restoration of democracy and freedom for all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi. The resolution also called on the Burmese authorities to release unconditionally and immediately, all political prisoners, with particular emphasis on the elderly and the sick. It further called on the Burmese authorities to desist from arresting and punishing persons for their peaceful political activities.
The Government's continuing goal, and that of the EU, remains the return of democracy to Burma, an end to human rights violations there and the realisation of peace and prosperity for the long suffering people of Burma.
208 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in relation to the case of a person (details supplied); if he will make a statement on the role he can play in the matter. [15085/05]
Amharc ar fhreagra209 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in relation to the case of a person (details supplied); if he will make a statement on the role he can play in the matter. [15086/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together.
I am aware of the cases to which the Deputy refers. The Government shares the concerns expressed about the conduct of the cases against these persons and the conditions under which they have been detained. We continue to monitor these cases. The Government, both bilaterally and together with our partners in the European Union, has regularly conveyed its concerns to the Israeli authorities about the human rights implications of its security policies and stressed the importance of Israel complying with international humanitarian law.
210 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in relation to the case of the disappearance of a person (details supplied); if he will make a statement on the role he can play in the matter. [15087/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 7 April 2003, Dr. Leonard Hitimana, a member of the Transitional National Assembly of Rwanda representing the opposition Mouvement Démocratique Républican, MDR, party, disappeared after having left the home of another MDR Deputy in Kigali. It appears that Mr. Hitimana's disappearance may be linked to his activity in the MDR political party which was subsequently banned by the Rwandan parliament in May 2003. In particular, Dr. Hitimana had been accused in a report prepared by a parliamentary committee investigating the MDR of belonging to a group of people disseminating ideologies of ethnic discrimination. There is no proof, however, supporting such an accusation.
An official investigation into Dr. Hitimana's disappearance was immediately opened and is still under way and is being monitored by the Rwandan Parliament's Committee on Human Rights and National Unity. Rwandan authorities have suggested that Dr. Hitimana may have fled to either Uganda or to the Democratic Republic of Congo, since his car was found near the Ugandan border shortly after his disappearance. However, his family have rejected this suggestion. There are genuine concerns that Dr. Hitimana's disappearance may form one of a series of forced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and illegal imprisonments which have been widely reported in Rwanda in recent years.
Ireland and its EU partners continue to pursue an active political dialogue with the Rwandan Government within the framework of the Cotonou Agreement, particularly on issues such as democracy and human rights which can contribute to the promotion of national reconciliation within Rwanda. The European Union has made clear that there is a need to open up the political space within Rwanda to ensure greater freedom of expression and respect for the promotion and defence of human rights. Within the framework of this dialogue, Ireland and our EU partners will urge greater efforts to strengthen the rule of law within Rwanda and to ensure that forced disappearances are fully and properly investigated. Specifically, we will also urge the Rwandan authorities to continue their investigations and efforts to locate Dr. Hitimana.
211 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in relation to the cases of persons (details supplied); if he will make a statement on the role he can play in the matter. [15088/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, adopted a resolution on 8 April 2005 concerning the imprisonment of the persons referred to, who were members of the People's Council of the Syrian Arab Republic. The presidency and the EU missions in Syria are following closely developments in relation to these cases, and have made known our concerns to the Syrian authorities. In addition, the European Parliament's special rapporteur for the EU-Syria Association Agreement, Véronique De Keyser MEP, raised the cases with the Syrian authorities while visiting Syria last month.
While there have been some improvements in recent years, the Government, and the EU, remain concerned about the protection of human rights in Syria, including the issue of freedom of expression. These concerns are conveyed to the Syrian authorities in our bilateral contacts or together with our EU partners.
212 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in relation to the murder of a person (details supplied) in January 2000; if he will make a statement on the role that he can play in the matter. [15089/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, adopted a resolution on 8 April 2005 concerning the case of Mr. Tengku Nashiruddin Daud. I understand that Mr. Tengku Nashiruddin Daud, an Acehnese member of parliament in Indonesia, was killed in January 2000 and that an investigation into this case is still ongoing.
Ireland and our EU partners continue to monitor the political situation in Indonesia and human rights issues are regularly raised in discussions with the Indonesian authorities. The EU Troika of Foreign Ministers met with the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr. Hassan Wirajuda, in Jakarta on 10 March 2005. Human rights issues were discussed at that meeting.
EU Heads of Mission in Jakarta also raise human rights issues during regular political dialogue meetings with the Indonesian authorities. Indonesia is a focus country of the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, EIDHR, the aim of which is to promote human rights, democracy and conflict prevention in non-EU countries. Through the EIDHR micro-projects facility, the European Commission delegation in Jakarta supports small-scale civil society activities in the field of strengthening the rule of law and the legal system, conflict prevention and resolution and freedom of expression and independent media. Together with our EU partners, the Government will continue to raise human rights in our discussions with the Indonesian authorities.
213 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in relation to the case of a person (details supplied) a former member of the House of Representatives of Malaysia who is barred from standing for election and from political activity; if he will make a statement on the role that he can play in relation to the popular quest for a pardon by the King. [15090/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, adopted a resolution on 8 April 2005 concerning the former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mr. Anwar Ibrahim.
Mr. Anwar was dismissed from office in 1998 and subsequently imprisoned for alleged offences of sodomy and corruption and sentenced to serve nine and six year sentences respectively. Following a number of appeals, he was acquitted on 2 September 2004, when his conviction on charges of sodomy was overturned. By the time of his release, Mr. Anwar had already served his full sentence arising out of his conviction on corruption charges. I understand that according to Malaysian law, Mr. Anwar is prevented from holding political office for five years after the ending of his sentence served for alleged corruption, in this case, until April 2008.
The EU issued a statement on 10 September 2004, welcoming Mr. Anwar's acquittal. The EU had monitored this case closely throughout the various stages of the judicial process. It had frequently expressed deep concern about the fairness of the legal proceedings against Mr. Anwar on both the sodomy and corruption charges. The EU continues to closely monitor the appeal process concerning Mr. Anwar's conviction for corruption.
214 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in regard to the case of the murder of a person (details supplied) in Mongolia in 1998, which was believed could have been politically motivated; if he will make a statement on the role he can play in the matter. [15091/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, adopted a resolution on 8 April 2005 concerning the death of the Mongolian parliamentarian, Mr. Zorig Sanjasuuren, in 1998. I understand that an investigation into his death is still ongoing.
Ireland and our EU partners continue to monitor the political situation in Mongolia. A trade and co-operation agreement between the EU and Mongolia entered into force in 1993. This agreement includes a commitment to protect human rights.
The European Commission adopted a country strategy paper on Mongolia on 27 December 2001. This paper set out the strategic framework within which European Community assistance would be provided to Mongolia in the period 2002-06. The country strategy paper notes that the overall human rights record is good in Mongolia but acknowledges that there have been shortcomings. The European Community has provided assistance to Mongolia in the general area of democratisation, including, inter alia, through supporting the activities of non-governmental organisations, increasing theoretical and practical knowledge of democracy and assisting the Mongolian authorities in reforming public management.
The European Union meets with the Mongolian authorities on a regular basis. The 8th joint committee meeting of Mongolia and the European Union took place in Brussels on 15 March 2005. That meeting provided an opportunity to review recent political developments in Mongolia. Together with our EU partners, we will continue to monitor the political situation in Mongolia.
215 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in regard to the case of the torture of a person (details supplied) in January 2000; if he will make a statement on the role that he can play in the matter. [15092/05]
Amharc ar fhreagra216 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in regard to the case of the holding in solitary confinement of a person (details supplied) a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan; if he will make a statement on the role that he can play in regard to the violations occurring against this person. [15093/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together.
I am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, adopted resolutions on 8 April 2005 concerning Mr. Asif Ali Zardari and Mr. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi of Pakistan. I understand that Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People's Party, was released from prison in December 2004. Following his release, he travelled to Dubai to be with his family. He returned to Pakistan on 16 April 2005 and is reported to be currently at liberty.
I am aware that Mr. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, leader of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy party, is currently serving a 23 year prison sentence for charges relating to defamation of the Pakistan authorities. I understand that the EU troika of heads of mission in Islamabad recently raised Mr. Hashmi's case with the Pakistan authorities during a démarche on human rights issues.
On a general level, Ireland and our EU partners discuss human rights and democratisation issues with the Pakistan authorities on a regular basis. Most recently, the EU troika of Foreign Ministers met with the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Mian Khursheed Kasuri, in Luxembourg on 27 April 2005. The Pakistani delegation briefed the EU side on political developments in Pakistan, including on human rights and democratisation issues. The EU stressed the importance of further democratisation in Pakistan.
Human rights issues were also raised at the EU-Pakistan Foreign Minister's meeting which took place in Islamabad in February 2004. The EU delegation was led by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Brian Cowen. On that occasion, the EU side expressed continued EU concern on human rights issues, such as treatment by police forces, blasphemy law, and the situation of women.
217 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in regard to the cases of persons (details supplied) who have been kidnapped for a number of years now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15094/05]
Amharc ar fhreagra218 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in regard to the case of a person (details supplied) who has been under threat of assassination; if he will make a statement on the role that he can play in the matter. [15095/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 together.
I am aware that the Inter-Parliamentary Union at its meeting from 3 to 9 April 2005 in Manila considered the cases of the kidnappings of Mr. Oscar Lizcano, Mr. Jorge Eduardo Gechen Turbay, Mr. Luis Eladio Pêrez Bonilla, Mr. Orlando Beltrán Cuéllar, Ms Gloria Polanco de Lozada and Ms Consuelo González de Perdomo as well as death threats directed towards Mr. Gustavo Petro Urrego. I am also aware that the left wing guerrilla group FARC is said to be involved in the kidnappings while right wing paramilitary groups, with allegations of participation by elements of the security forces, are said to be involved in the death threats in the cases referred to by the Deputy.
Ireland monitors human rights in Colombia together with its partners in the European Union. The General Affairs and External Relations Council at its meeting on 13 December 2004 reiterated the EU's concern over the grave human rights and international humanitarian law situation in Colombia.
In the Colombian peace process, an essential element is the need for a comprehensive legal framework for the process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of the illegal armed groups, based on the principles of truth, justice and reparation. This was emphasised in the Cartagena Declaration which was adopted at a meeting on international support for Colombia on 3-4 February 2005 in Cartagena at which Ireland was represented. The Colombian Government has since then introduced a justice and peace Bill in the Colombian Congress, which it argues will provide such a framework.
Ireland was actively involved in negotiating the recent Chairperson's Statement on the situation of human rights in Colombia which was adopted on 22 April 2005 at the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. The statement appeals to the Government of Colombia to address the issue of impunity and to take action to improve the capacity and effectiveness of the judicial system and to take action where evidence of collusion with the paramilitary forces is found. My Department will continue to monitor the situation in Colombia, and particularly the progress of the justice and peace Bill, through our embassy in Mexico City, as well as in co-operation with our EU partners with resident embassies in Colombia.
219 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in relation to the cases of the murders of persons (details supplied) in January 2000; if he will make a statement on the role that he can play in relation to the matter. [15096/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, at its meeting from 3 to 9 April 2005, in Manila, adopted a resolution regarding the murders of Jaime Ricaurte Hurtado González and Pablo Vicente Tapia Farinango. I share the view of the IPU that due process is essential in such cases.
In a statement on recent political developments in Ecuador issued on 21 April 2005, the Luxembourg Presidency, on behalf of the European Union, called for every effort to be made to strengthen the democratic process and State institutions in that country.
My Department will continue to monitor the situation in Ecuador in co-operation with our EU partners with resident embassies in Quito.
220 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in relation to the cases of the holding incommunicado detention of 11 parliamentarians (details supplied) from Eritrea since September 2001; if he will make a statement on the role that he can play in the matter. [15097/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government remains deeply concerned at the treatment of the eleven parliamentarians arrested on grounds of treason in September 2001, after they had issued a statement critical of the human rights record of the Eritrean Government and calling for a greater level of democracy and political space in Eritrea. None of the eleven parliamentarians detained have been allowed access to their families or legal counsel nor charged with any crime. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
Ireland and its EU partners pursue an active and open political dialogue with the Eritrean Government, within the framework of the Cotonou Agreement. Within that framework, EU ambassadors in Asmara have repeatedly pressed the Eritrean Government for information on the group and have urged that they either be released or brought before the courts on specific charges. The EU formally wrote to President Isaias regarding the case last September, in a letter issued by the Dutch presidency in Asmara which called on the Government of Eritrea to grant the detainees a fair trial in accordance with international law. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights has also found Eritrea in violation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights in connection with this case and has ordered the immediate release of the eleven detainees, a decision which was formally approved by the African Union Heads of State meeting in Abuja last January.
Ireland and its EU partners will continue to monitor closely the case of the eleven detainees and to raise this matter with the Eritrean Government as an example of the need for greater promotion of and respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Eritrea. In this regard, the Luxembourg Presidency, in conjunction with the Eritrean authorities, has recently drawn up a set of performance indicators for the EU's political dialogue with the Government of Eritrea. These include the start of due process for political and religious detainees, detained journalists and other prisoners of conscience and provision for visits to political prisoners by EU ambassadors in Asmara. A further round of political consultations is expected to take place shortly in Asmara. In September 2005 the EU and the Eritrean authorities will undertake a joint assessment of progress towards achievement of the various performance indicators.
221 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the position in relation to the murder investigation of a person (details supplied) of Honduras in 1988; if he will make a statement on the role that he can play in relation to the matter. [15098/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, at its meeting from 3 to 9 April 2005 in Manila, adopted a resolution regarding ongoing court proceedings in the case of the murder of Mr. Miguel Angel Pavón Salazar in Honduras. I share the view of the IPU that due process is essential in such cases and I assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to monitor the situation in Honduras in cooperation with our EU partners with resident embassies in Tegucigalpa.
222 Ms Hoctor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts made by the Government in progressing the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15351/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis case continues to be closely monitored by my Department through the Irish Embassy in London. The embassy in London remains in contact with the person himself and with the prison authorities on his behalf. The embassy also met recently with the representatives of the group campaigning for his release.
As I have indicated previously in my replies on this case, I understand the person's solicitor is still seeking appropriate grounds on which either to lodge an appeal against conviction or to seek to have the case reopened. The embassy, following the last prison visit to him by a diplomatic officer, has also written to his solicitor on his behalf.
My Department will continue to provide all appropriate consular assistance and advice to the person concerned and his family. I will consider whether there is any further action that I might take when the legal position has been clarified.
