Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has taken steps to verify the reported 16-year hard labour sentence handed to the former Chief Minister of Shan State, Linn Htut, in Myanmar, and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK has repeatedly condemned the arbitrary detention and politically motivated sentencing of those who oppose the coup. We are deeply concerned by reports that former National League for Democracy leader, Linn Htut, was arrested on 28 January 2022 on trumped up corruption charges and has received a prison sentence. Some 12,000 people have been detained since the coup, with credible reports of torture and sexual violence. Immediately following the coup, the former Minister for Asia made a statement to the house, which called on the military to release those arbitrarily detained. On 17 February 2021, our former Ambassador raised our strong objections to the arrest and detention of protestors and political figures with the military, in his role as Chair of the Joint Peace Fund. On 8 December 2021, following the sentencing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint, we secured a UN Security Council Resolution which called for the release of all those arbitrarily detained. In February 2022, to mark a year since the coup, the UK coordinated a joint statement, agreed by 36 countries, which called for the release of all those in arbitrary detention and a return to the democratic process, and we secured a strong UN Security Council Press Statement which called for the release of all those arbitrarily detained.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the reported increase in the number of political prisoners in Myanmar since the military coup on February 1, 2021, what steps her Department is taking to increase the pressure on the Myanmar military junta to release all political prisoners.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK has repeatedly condemned the arbitrary detention and politically motivated sentencing of those who oppose the coup. We are deeply concerned by reports that former National League for Democracy leader, Linn Htut, was arrested on 28 January 2022 on trumped up corruption charges and has received a prison sentence. Some 12,000 people have been detained since the coup, with credible reports of torture and sexual violence. Immediately following the coup, the former Minister for Asia made a statement to the house, which called on the military to release those arbitrarily detained. On 17 February 2021, our former Ambassador raised our strong objections to the arrest and detention of protestors and political figures with the military, in his role as Chair of the Joint Peace Fund. On 8 December 2021, following the sentencing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint, we secured a UN Security Council Resolution which called for the release of all those arbitrarily detained. In February 2022, to mark a year since the coup, the UK coordinated a joint statement, agreed by 36 countries, which called for the release of all those in arbitrary detention and a return to the democratic process, and we secured a strong UN Security Council Press Statement which called for the release of all those arbitrarily detained.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make it her policy to support a general licence for humanitarian activities inside Ukraine to ensure that money donated to the people of Ukraine is able to reach those who need it.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Sanctions are carefully targeted so as not to impede the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The UK seeks to minimise any unintended consequences of sanctions, including through use of licensing provisions or exceptions where appropriate. HMG has regular engagement with NGOs and banks through the Tri-Sector Group and is committed to ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Sanctions Unit will support a general licence for humanitarian activities in Ukraine in order that charities are able spend the money donated to them by the British public.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Sanctions are carefully targeted so as not to impede the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The UK seeks to minimise any unintended consequences of sanctions, including through use of licensing provisions or exceptions where appropriate. HMG has regular engagement with NGOs and banks through the Tri-Sector Group and is committed to ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with representatives of the insurance industry in the UK on the activities of that industry that fund the Myanmar military.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK Government is clear that UK businesses must fully comply with relevant sanctions and not enter relationships that benefit the military. Businesses should consult the Department for International Trade's Overseas Business Risk Guidance for further information (Overseas Business Risk: Myanmar (Burma) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)).
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the fire at the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
We are deeply saddened by the recent fire in the Rohingya refugee camp 16 in Cox's Bazar, which has affected approximately 2,000 people and damaged shelters, water and sanitation facilities, and learning centres. Lord Ahmad, the Minister for South Asia, tweeted his condolences to those impacted by the fire on 10 January. We are providing immediate support to the UN to replenish destroyed stoves and cooking gas, and to rehabilitate camp infrastructure. We stand ready to provide further humanitarian assistance once the UN concludes the needs assessment.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the recommendations made by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar in his Annual Report to the UN General Assembly.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK strongly supports the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar which are in line with the UK's strategic objectives to resolve the crisis. In particular, the UK has been at the forefront of the international effort to target the military's access to money and arms. The UK has announced seven tranches of sanctions since the coup, targeting the regime's credibility and their revenue streams, we are working with partners to consider further measures. The UK is clear that the international community should work to prevent the flow of arms to Myanmar. To this end we have secured a G7 commitment and a UN General Assembly Resolution which reaffirm this commitment. We are working with partners to put pressure on those who continue to sell arms to the military. The UK is clear in our condemnation of the coup and will continue to work to deny the regime credibility. We will continue to support the voices of those who oppose the coup, including the National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG) who have a strong democratic mandate from the November 2020 election.
As set out in the UN Special Rapporteur Report, meeting humanitarian needs remains a major priority. 70% of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's aid spend in Myanmar is being used to respond to health and humanitarian issues. As ASEAN's newest Dialogue Partner, the UK pledged a further $100k in Technical Assistance to support the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Centre in its response to the crisis in Myanmar and to support regional stability. The UK has provided humanitarian assistance to over 500,000 people since the coup. Our humanitarian assistance includes water and sanitation, nutrition and lifesaving food. This is delivered by the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and international and local Non-Governmental Organisations.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the warning from the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar on the risk of further mass atrocity crimes by the military in that country.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK shares the concerns of the UN Special Rapporteur regarding the risk of further mass atrocity crimes in Myanmar. The UK has developed strong mechanisms, in consultation with civil society experts, to monitor emerging atrocity risks. The UK has set up the Myanmar Witness programme which is gathering and reporting open-source information on serious human rights violations. The UK is closely monitoring the situation on the ground, particularly in North West Myanmar and Rakhine, and released a statement on 15 October regarding troop build ups in Chin, Sagaing and Magwe, calling on the military to cease the violence. We convened a UN Security Council on 8 November and secured a press statement on violence, protection of civilians, humanitarian access and vaccines.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will convene an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in response to the military escalation in Myanmar.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK is gravely concerned at escalating conflict across the country, particularly in Chin, Sagaing and Magwe. Significant troop movements by the Myanmar Armed Forces and multiple civilian casualties have been reported in these areas.
The UK is calling for a peaceful and inclusive resolution to the crisis. In response to escalating conflict we convened the Council again on 8 November, securing a strong press statement on violence, humanitarian access and the role of ASEAN. We reiterate our support for the ASEAN Five Point Consensus, noting in particular the call for a cessation of violence. We will continue our engagement with the wider international community to support a lasting solution for the people of Myanmar.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the level of demand for food assistance in Myanmar (a) for internally displaced people, (b) in Kachin, and (c) in Northern Shan.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK remains one of the leading donors supporting the humanitarian response in Myanmar. Since the coup, we have provided £15.3 million in humanitarian funding for the Red Cross, UN, and local and International Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Where necessary, we have also reprioritised humanitarian funding towards urgent needs, including food and Covid assistance, in Kachin, Shan, Chin and the Southeast. Over the last year the UK has been building up the humanitarian response capacity of communities themselves through partners. This has enabled the UK to get support to very hard to reach communities. Through a network of local responders and communities, 25,000 newly displaced people have been reached with cash and emergency food support in Northern Shan. In Kachin, our partners have reached over 7,500 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with food and cash assistance. UK support has been critical in covering major food gaps in several IDP camps between March and August 2021, when other partners could not reach or support these people. The UK remains strongly committed to helping those most in need in Myanmar.