______________________________________________
For Oral Answer on : 06/10/2022
Question Number(s): 8,25 Question Reference(s): 48912/22, 48926/22
Department: Foreign Affairs
Asked by: David Stanton T.D., Richard Bruton T.D.
______________________________________________


QUESTION



* To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the current situation in Myanmar; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– David Stanton T.D.


For ORAL answer on Thursday, 6 October, 2022.

* To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the humanitarian situation in Myanmar; and the initiatives that have been taken by the international community to address the situation.

– Richard Bruton T.D.


For ORAL answer on Thursday, 6 October, 2022.

REPLY

I remain deeply concerned by the deteriorating security, humanitarian and human rights situation in Myanmar. It has now been 19 months since the military took control by coup and launched their brutal campaign to retain power and reverse the hard won progress in Myanmar. Their actions have had devastating consequences for the people of Myanmar. I utterly condemn the coup and attempts to consolidate or legitimise the military regime.

The Government has repeatedly called for the immediate release of detainees, and expressed abhorrence at the indefensible killing of unarmed civilians, the use of military weaponry, sexual violence, torture, and the death penalty by the military regime.  We have done so through five national statements since the coup. I also strongly support the EU’s adoption of sanctions against the perpetrators of the coup and the economic entities that sustain them.

Ireland has also advocated for regular discussion of the situation on the United Nations Security Council. There have been ten discussions at the Council since the coup, regrettably in closed meeting format, most recently on 16 September.  At those meetings, we have highlighted our deep concern at the deteriorating situation on the ground, including the death sentences carried out by the military regime against pro democracy activists.  I also remain deeply concerned by the politically-motivated verdicts against Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and others in Myanmar.

At the United Nations Human Rights Council, Ireland has consistently supported international efforts towards ensuring accountability and justice, including through the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court.

The humanitarian situation in Myanmar is precarious and civilians continue to bear the brunt of the armed conflict. More than 14 million people in Myanmar require humanitarian assistance and almost 1.3 million people are displaced across the country.

To date in 2022 the Government has provided €1.2 million towards humanitarian needs in Myanmar. We have also responded through our core support to the UN pooled Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) which has provided over €12 million in response to the crisis in Myanmar in 2022. In 2022, the EU has allocated more than €27 million in humanitarian aid in Myanmar. The Government also continues to provide support to the Rohingya crisis, allocating over €8 million between 2018 and 2021 through trusted UN and NGO partners.

I will continue to work closely with partners in the EU, and at the United Nations, to encourage a diplomatic solution to end this crisis and, above all, the suffering of the people of Myanmar.