Asked by: Lord Harries of Pentregarth (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking about the deteriorating political situation and increasing violence in Burundi.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supports the East African Community-led dialogue to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Burundi. We continue to urge the Burundi government to engage with the East African Community.
At the recent Human Rights Council session on 20 June 2017, the UK called on the Burundi Government to end the violence and collaborate with the UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi to ensure that individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Burundi are held to account. Our non-resident Ambassador and officials regularly visit for consultations with the Burundi Government; these discussions cover human rights and the importance of maintaining the principles of the 2000 Arusha Agreement, including the protection of minority groups in Burundi. In addition, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is implementing projects in Burundi focused on human rights, sexual and gender based violence and security.
Asked by: Lord Harries of Pentregarth (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking in response to the continued violation of human rights in West Papua, most recently the arrest of 130 people taking part in a peaceful march between 30 June and 6 July.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We follow the situation in Papua with close interest, whilst respecting the territorial integrity of Indonesia. We recognise there are significant challenges in Papua and are concerned about the sporadic violence and restrictions on freedom of expression which continue to take place, such as the events in Nabire District between 29 June and 6 July. As a result, we have pressed the Indonesian authorities to address legitimate concerns and ensure the sustainable and equitable development of the province. Our Ambassador and Embassy officials visit Papua periodically. Officials most recently visited earlier this month and our Ambassador will visit again later this year. We will continue to raise our concerns with the Indonesian authorities. We also raised the issue of access to Papua for foreign journalists during Indonesia's Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in May 2017.
We welcome the Indonesian Government's commitment to improving the situation in Papua. President Widodo has visited a number of times since his election in 2014 and has granted clemency to some prisoners and lifted travel restrictions for foreign journalists and international organisations. These are welcome developments, which we support.
Asked by: Lord Harries of Pentregarth (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will press the government of Indonesia to implement the recommendations of the Human Rights Watch report <i>Something to Hide? Indonesia’s Restrictions on Media Freedom and Rights Monitoring in Papua</i>; and in particular whether they plan to ask the government of Indonesia to (1) issue a specific written directive instructing all relevant ministries and security forces to (a) comply with the decision in May to lift restrictions on foreign media access to Papua and West Papua, and (b) stop restricting the operations of international NGOs and the movement of their staff in Papua and West Papua; (2) instruct the National Police to stop requiring accredited Indonesia-based foreign correspondents to apply for travel permits to report from Papua and West Papua; and (3) instruct the National Police, the Armed Forces and the State Intelligence Agency to (a) investigate fully incidents in which their staff do not comply with the lifting of restrictions on foreign media and international NGOs’ personnel, or impede, obstruct, harass or arbitrarily detain them, and (b) prevent the surveillance, harassment, and intimidation of, and violence against, Indonesian journalists in Papua and investigate incidents in which such abuses allegedly occurred.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We welcome the Indonesian government’s commitment to improving the situation in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua. This includes President Joko Widodo’s visit in May, when he granted clemency to a number of prisoners and announced the lifting of travel restrictions for foreign journalists. Since May, a number of foreign journalists have successfully visited and reported from the region. Staff from our Embassy in Jakarta visit Indonesia's provinces regularly, discussing our concerns with relevant authorities. Our Ambassador visited Papua in May, where he discussed ways to ensure the sustainable and equitable development of the provinces with members of the police, and religious and community leaders. We will continue to raise concerns where we have them with the appropriate authorities across Indonesia.
Asked by: Lord Harries of Pentregarth (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether reporters are now allowed to enter West Papua; and if not, what representations they are making to the government of Indonesia to allow access to the press.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We welcome the Indonesian government’s commitment to improving the situation in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua. This includes President Joko Widodo’s visit in May, when he granted clemency to a number of prisoners and announced the lifting of travel restrictions for foreign journalists. Since May, a number of foreign journalists have successfully visited and reported from Papua and West Papua.
Asked by: Lord Harries of Pentregarth (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any representations to the government of Georgia about its actions towards the independent tv station Rustavi 2.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
In response to developments in the legal case concerning the Rustavi 2 TV station, the UK and other EU Member States' Missions released a joint written statement on 6 November with the Embassy of the United States of America in Georgia, which said:
"The Delegation of the European Union, in agreement with the Heads of Mission of the EU Member States in Georgia, and the Embassy of the United States of America express our concern related to the appointment of a new management to the Rustavi 2 TV company.
In light of the recent interim decision of the Constitutional Court and considering that the substantial judgment of the first instance court in the Rustavi 2 case does not envisage immediate enforcement, the preventive measures adopted on 5 November raise serious questions about the independence of the judiciary and the actual degree of freedom of the media in Georgia.
As our respective Missions have publicly stated many times, freedom of media and independence of the judiciary are essential foundations of a democracy, and diverse opinions should be encouraged in democratic societies. We call on all political actors to refrain from any step or statement that could prevent the Georgian judiciary from ruling dispassionately on this case.
The government and judicial institutions need to uphold the principles of media freedom and political pluralism that are an integral part of Georgia’s declared aspirations.
We will continue to monitor developments closely and raise concerns with all relevant parties as appropriate.”
Our Ambassador in Tbilisi has also held discussions with senior members of the Georgian government and will continue to engage on this issue, bilaterally as well as with EU and other concerned partners.
Asked by: Lord Harries of Pentregarth (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to make representations to the government of Indonesia to encourage it to establish an inquiry into the incident at Paniai, West Papua, on 8 December in which the Indonesian police and military reportedly shot into a crowd; and whether they will encourage that government to allow access to West Papua for non-governmental organisations and the media.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We are concerned by reports of a number of deaths in Paniai on 8 December, apparently following attempts to disperse a group of protesters. We support calls by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for the authorities to conduct an independent and thorough investigation into the incident.
We regularly discuss the situation in Papua province with the Indonesian authorities, raise concerns about access for international journalists and non-governmental organisations and encourage a greater focus on resolving disputes through peaceful dialogue. Most recently the Charge d’Affairs visited Papua province on 3-5 December.
Asked by: Lord Harries of Pentregarth (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of recent political resignations in Georgia and accusations that members of the United National Movement are being investigated.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The recent political resignations are a matter for the Georgian government. We look forward to developing good working relationships with the new incumbents. It is fact that a number of opposition United National Movement party members are currently under investigation. In our dealings with the Georgian government and relevant authorities we have been clear that all investigations should be transparent, evidenced-based and follow due legal process.