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.