Asked by: Baroness Nye (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regarding the pending executions of four Myanmar political prisoners, including the democracy activists (1) Phyo Zeya Thaw, and (2) Ko Jimmy.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government is deeply concerned by reports that the military have sentenced pro-democracy activists and leaders, including Phyo Zeya Thaw and Ko Jimmy, to death. Both Minister Milling, and the British Embassy in Yangon, have made it clear that the UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances. We once again call on the military regime to respect human rights and the rule of law. We continue to use all available fora to raise these concerns, including raising privately with ASEAN counterparts.
Asked by: Baroness Nye (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have raised the pending executions of four Myanmar political prisoners including the democracy activists (1) Phyo Zeya Thaw, and (2) Ko Jimmy, with their UN Security Council counterparts.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government is deeply concerned by reports that the military have sentenced pro-democracy activists and leaders, including Phyo Zeya Thaw and Ko Jimmy, to death. Both Minister Milling, and the British Embassy in Yangon, have made it clear that the UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances. We once again call on the military regime to respect human rights and the rule of law. We continue to use all available multilateral fora, including the UN Security Council (UNSC), to raise these concerns. On 8 December 2021, the UK secured a UNSC Press Statement condemning the sentencing of pro-democracy leaders and calling for the release of all those in arbitrary detention.
Asked by: Baroness Nye (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial support they have provided for the peace process in Burma in the current financial year, broken down by each organisation that has received funding, directly or indirectly.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
To date in this current financial year the UK has provided £3,003,398 to support the peace process and wider peacebuilding in Burma. This comprises £1.9 million from the Department for International Development to the Paung Sie Facility which is implemented by the Nordic International Support Foundation to support inter-communal harmony; £383,398 from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) to Inter Mediate; and £720,000 from CSSF to the Joint Peace Fund whose 11 donors provide funding for the Joint Monitoring Committee for monitoring the 2015 ceasefire agreement and over 30 other peace process-focused projects.
Asked by: Baroness Nye (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of recent events in Rakhine State, when the UK's Ambassador in Burma last discussed with the new administration there the opening of a full country office for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Ambassador last raised the opening of a country office for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in August.
Asked by: Baroness Nye (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the new government in Burma about the opening of a UNHCR office in that country.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
While the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees already maintain an office in Rangoon, Burma, we have long called for the Burmese government to work with the UN over the opening of a full country office for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This was a prominent recommendation of the Burma Resolution at the UN’s March Human Rights Council, which we co-sponsored. We will continue to encourage the new administration in Burma to follow through on that recommendation.
Asked by: Baroness Nye (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what funding is provided each year for the British Chamber of Commerce in Burma.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Last year (2014/15) the British Chamber of Commerce in Burma received £70,400 of funding from UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and this year (2015/16) it will receive £102,400. It will deliver 130 company interventions in 2015/16. This funding is part of UKTI’s Overseas Business Network Initiative, a change programme increasing the role of the private sector, including Chambers of Commerce and Business Groups, in providing support for UK exporters.
Asked by: Baroness Nye (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any United Kingdom Government officials or Ministers have met any representatives of Bell Pottinger regarding Burma.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Our Ambassador to Burma and the Director of UK Trade and Investment in Rangoon have met representatives from Bell Pottinger in the last year, in order to provide political and economic overviews of the country.
Asked by: Baroness Nye (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what analysis they have made of the assessment by the Burmese Muslim Association that the government of Burma is encouraging anti-Muslim activities in that country.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We remain extremely concerned by instances of religious intolerance in Burma, particularly as the November parliamentary elections approach. Specific concerns include the restriction on the Rohingya community, the rise of Buddhist nationalism, hate speech and anti-Muslim violence, and the introduction of potentially discriminatory faith-based legislation. We have raised our concerns in detail both bilaterally and in company with our partners in the EU and will continue to raise this issue in our dealings with the Burmese authorities, both in public and in private. We also work closely with civil society on these issues in Burma, particularly during our visits to Rakhine State, where the UK is one of the largest bilateral donors of humanitarian assistance.
Asked by: Baroness Nye (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the British Ambassador to Burma has raised the jailing of Zaw Pe with the government of Burma.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
Our Ambassador has discussed the case of Zaw Pe, and those of other arrested journalists, with Deputy Minister of Information Ye Htut. The cases of Zaw Pe and many other individuals were also raised during the first EU-Burma Human Rights Dialogue in May.