Asked by: Paul Scully (Conservative - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the conclusions of the report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, published in March 2018.
Answered by Mark Field
The Government set out its response to the report in its reply to PQ HL6282. Since the report was published the UK has played a leading role in securing the resolution adopted at the 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council in September that establishes a mechanism to collect and preserve evidence of atrocities in Burma, as called for by the Special Rapporteur. The current Foreign Secretary has stated that it is essential that the perpetrators of any atrocities are brought to justice through impartial and credible investigations.
Asked by: Paul Scully (Conservative - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Government of Pakistan on (a) the murder of Mr Muhammed Shoban on the 25 June 2018 and (b) the ongoing persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in that country; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mark Field
We remain deeply concerned by reports of discrimination and violence against the Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan. As I stated during the backbench business debate on Ahmadiyya rights on 24 May 2018, we wholeheartedly condemn attacks on the Ahmadiyya community. We regularly raise with the Government of Pakistan at senior levels the importance of religious tolerance and its duty to uphold the rights of all Pakistan's citizens regardless of religious identity.
During my visit to Pakistan in November 2017, I raised the treatment of religious minorities, including discrimination and violence against the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, with the Ministry of Human Rights. My Ministerial colleague, the Minister of State for Commonwealth and the UN, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, discussed the issue of freedom of religion or belief, and the protection of religious minorities, with Pakistan's Interior Minister in February 2018. At the UN Periodic Review of Pakistan's human rights record in November 2017, the UK called on Pakistan to strengthen protection of minorities and establish an independent National Commission for Minorities.
Asked by: Paul Scully (Conservative - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the role of Hezbollah in the Middle East peace process.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are aware of Hassan Nasrallah's recent calls for a Palestinian intifada. The UK deplores all forms of incitement, including any comments that could stir up hatred and prejudice. We continue to urge all sides to avoid engaging in, or encouraging, any type of action and language that makes it more difficult to achieve a culture of peaceful coexistence and a negotiated solution to the conflict.
Asked by: Paul Scully (Conservative - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he made representations to the Government of Burma after the reported air strike by the Burmese military on an amber mining camp in Noije, Kachin State, on 26 January 2018.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK is concerned about the apparent intensification of conflict in Kachin State, including credible reports of human rights abuses and violations. We raised our concerns at the UN Human Rights Council on 19 September 2017 but will do so again as soon as is appropriate. The British Ambassador in Rangoon visited Kachin State from 8 to 10 January to discuss the situation with local political and religious leaders as well as UN and NGO representatives, and to visit an Internally Displaced Persons camp.
Asked by: Paul Scully (Conservative - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received of the establishment of Iranian rocket factories in Lebanon under the control of Hezbollah.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are aware of reports that Hizballah continues to amass an arsenal of weapons in Lebanon. The UK remains concerned about the threat that this poses to regional stability and the direct contravention of UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701. We will also continue to take action with the international community to encourage Iran to play a transparent and constructive role in regional affairs.
Asked by: Paul Scully (Conservative - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government is providing to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, and the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK supports the role of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. The UK is currently a member of the UN Human Rights Council, and we welcome her valuable briefings to that body.
The UK co-sponsored the resolution at the March 2017 session of the Human Rights Council which established the Fact Finding Mission to look into the human rights situation in Burma. We also supported the decision made at the September 2017 session to extend its mandate until September 2018. Lord Ahmad reiterated the UK's call for Burma to cooperate with the Fact Finding Mission during a Special Session of the Human Rights Council on 5 December. The UK will work with international partners to ensure the Human Rights Council responds appropriately when the Fact Finding Mission presents its interim report at the March 2018 session.
Asked by: Paul Scully (Conservative - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has been made of whether Niranjan Rasalingam, a British citizen jailed in Burma, has received a fair trial.
Answered by Mark Field
We have not made an assessment of whether Mr Niranjan has received a fair trial, as the appeals process in his case is ongoing. In the meantime we continue to liaise closely with his lawyer and representatives; and are providing consular and welfare support.
Asked by: Paul Scully (Conservative - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the Burmese authorities on the prison sentence handed down to Niranjan Rasalingham; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mark Field
We have raised Mr Niranjan's case with the Burmese government on a number of occasions, including seeking clarity on the prison sentence handed down, and will continue to do so when appropriate. While we cannot directly intervene in the judicial process of another country, we will remain in close contact with Mr Niranjan and his lawyer as he decides what steps he wishes to take next and we will continue to provide consular assistance.
Asked by: Paul Scully (Conservative - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the implications for his policies are of the interim report and recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, published on 16 March 2017; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
We support the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission. I discussed the report with the Chair of the Commission, Kofi Annan, on 16 March. We stand ready to provide assistance to enable the Burmese authorities to implement its recommendations. We also look forward to the final report.
Asked by: Paul Scully (Conservative - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the government of Pakistan on the raid on the Tahrik Jadid Headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Rabwah, Pakistan.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
We are aware of reports of the raid on the Ahmadiyya office in Pakistan. The Government strongly condemns the persecution of all minorities, including the targeting of people based on their beliefs. Our concerns are reflected in the latest update to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office annual human rights report.
We regularly raise our concerns about the protection of minority communities, including religious minorities, with the Pakistani Government at a senior level. During his visit to Pakistan in November, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson), raised religious tolerance and the importance of safeguarding the rights of all Pakistan's citizens. We continue to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including those related to religious minorities, and to uphold the rule of law.