Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of press freedom and freedom of expression in Bangladesh, following reports of enforced disappearances of journalists and supporters of opposition parties in Bangladesh.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I raised concerns about disappearances and freedom of expression during my meetings with senior government leaders in Dhaka in August, and the Minister for Asia and the Pacific did the same with the Bangladesh High Commissioner and Foreign Secretary Haque in November. The High Commission in Dhaka regularly raises the full range of our human rights concerns with the Government of Bangladesh.
I am deeply concerned by the growing number of attacks against freedom of expression in Bangladesh, including those that have allegedly taken place through arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and extra-judicial killings. Bangladesh remains a human rights priority country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Bangladesh to ensure that the elections due to be held in Bangladesh in 2018 are free and fair, following the boycott of previous elections in that country by opposition parties.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Government is encouraging political parties in Bangladesh to engage in constructive dialogue and allow the Election Commission the freedom to do its important work. The Minister for Asia and the Pacific discussed the importance of free, fair and inclusive elections with members of the Awami League and Bangladesh National Party at a meeting hosted by the Conservative Friends of Bangladesh in July, with Bangladesh High Commissioner Quaunine in August and with Foreign Minister Ali in November. The High Commission in Dhaka regularly discusses these matters with the Government of Bangladesh, the main political parties, and the Bangladesh Election Commission.
Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the impact of the Saudi-led blockade of Qatar on the ordinary citizens of Qatar.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We know that the closure of borders between Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar has a real impact on the movement of people and goods and on the everyday lives of people in the region. We call upon the Gulf States to find a way of de-escalating the situation and lifting the current restrictions, and are engaging with all sides in support of Kuwait’s mediation efforts.
Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current situation of the Rohingya community in Myanmar and those in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
Answered by Lord Bates
The UK Government has been appalled by the allegations of human rights violations against the Rohingya. The UK has repeatedly called on the Burmese authorities to stop the violence in Rakhine state, and allow full humanitarian access to all those living there. In the areas affected by the violence, DFID’s partners are ready to provide emergency food to a further 30,000 people and to treat more than 3,000 severely malnourished children and pregnant women, but have no access right now. DFID has provided an additional £30 million to support the latest influx of refugees in Bangladesh, and our support will provide emergency food for 174,000 people, safe drinking water, emergency latrines and hygiene kits for more than 138,000 people, and emergency shelter for over 130,000 people.
Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to stop the forced deportation of the Rohingya community from Myanmar and to ensure their ongoing safety in Myanmar.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has raised Burma three times at the UN Security Council (UNSC) since the outbreak of violence in August. On 13 September, we secured the first agreed UNSC press elements on Burma in eight years, which called on the Burmese authorities to stop the violence, and allow humanitarian access. The Security Council discussed Burma in an open session on 28 September. We are actively considering with other Council members further steps in this regard.
The Foreign Secretary convened a meeting of foreign ministers at the UN on 18 September which echoed the Security Council's call for an end to the violence. The Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific reiterated this call at the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation's ministerial meeting in the margins of the UN General Assembly on 19 September where the UK was praised for its humanitarian and political leadership in response to this crisis. The Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific also met Burma's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs at the UN on 20 September and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma on 27 September and reiterated the same messages.
The UK supported the UN Human Rights Council's decision in September to extend the mandate of its Fact-Finding Mission to Burma to cover the recent outbreak of violence in Rakhine. I also raised this crisis as part of our formal statement at the Human Rights Council.
The Foreign Secretary represented the UK at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 16 October, securing agreement by member states to the suspension of all Burmese military visits to the EU and a review of all defence cooperation, and to consider additional measures if the situation in Rakhine does not improve. This followed the UK's lead in suspending co-operation with the Burmese military announced by the Prime Minister in September.
Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 31 October (HL2396), whether the issue of investigations into human rights abuses in Indian-administered Kashmir was raised during the Prime Minister's recent visit to India.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) and Prime Minister Modi discussed a variety of issues on her recent visit to India, including Kashmir. The UK's long-standing position, held by successive Governments, is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to act as a mediator.
Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of India concerning violence in Indian-administered Kashmir and the continued curfew order in place in cities and towns.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We remain concerned by reports of violence and offer our condolences to the victims and their families. The UK abides by its commitments under international law and expects all countries to comply with their international legal obligations. Our High Commission in Delhi is monitoring the situation closely and we have updated our travel advice. As the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Alok Sharma) said in the House of Commons on 18 October, the UK's long-standing position, held by successive Governments, is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or act as mediator.Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the government of India's recent refusal to allow access to representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to investigate possible human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir, what representations they are making to the government of India to enable those investigations to be undertaken.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We are aware of reports of human rights abuses in Indian-administered Kashmir. Any allegation of human rights abuse in any country is a matter of concern and should be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently.
Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Myanmar about abolishing ethnic and religious classifications for identification cards.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have a number of concerns about how identity cards and citizenship are obtained in Burma and the role of religion and ethnicity. Of particular concern are how these apply to the Muslim Rohingya community in Rakhine State, the requirement for Rohingya to identify as ‘Bengali’ to apply for citizenship, and the cancellation, on 31 March 2015, of all ‘White Card’ identity documents – the only form of identification held by many Rohingya.
We have repeatedly made our views known to the Burmese authorities on both questions. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), pressed the Burmese authorities on the issue of identity cards and a pathway to citizenship for the Rohingya during his visit to Burma in July.
Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Myanmar about revising its citizenship laws, which place restrictions on non-indigenous residents who have lived in Myanmar for a long period of time from becoming full citizens.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have a number of concerns about Burma’s 1982 Citizenship Law, and particularly how it deals with the Rohingya community. The British Government has consistently called for a sustainable solution to the issue of Rohingya citizenship which meets international standards. Most recently, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right. hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised this at senior level with the Burmese authorities, both with the central government and in Rakhine State, during his visit to Burma in July.