Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

I join with others in congratulating Aung San Suu Kyi on her release and commend the dignified way in which she has behaved since. However, any country that is still holding 2,000 political prisoners has little intention of changing its ways without the application of extreme pressure in various ways. We should begin by encouraging the international community to condemn out of hand the sham elections that were recently held and seek the opening of discussions with Aung San Suu Kyi and the minority ethnic groups on the border. Ireland, because of our neutrality and because we are small and not a threat to anybody, has a tremendous opportunity to lead the way at European level to force ongoing discussion and pressure on regimes such as that of Burma to open up and give democracy a chance. Now that there is a ray of hope, we should not let this opportunity slip. I would appreciate a commitment from the Minister that he will personally keep this high on the agenda at every European Council meeting so that we are seen to be leading the charge. As a small country, we can do a lot if we take up this cause and seek the release of the 2,000 people who are being held because of their political views.

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