Seanad debates

Tuesday, 5 October 2021

Situation in Belarus: Statements

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Niall Ó DonnghaileNiall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Tá mé sásta go bhfuil seal agam chun cúpla focal a rá ar na ráitis seo anocht.

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber for statements. On behalf of Sinn Féin, I extend our solidarity and support to the people of Belarus and their opposition to oppression by the Government of Alexander Lukashenko. The people of Ireland know only too well what it is like to live in circumstances where the people's expressed will at the ballot box has been ignored, suppressed and replaced with the expressed will of military aggression, and even occupation. The eventual partition of our country 100 years ago this year is a living expression of that type of aggression albeit in a different form but nonetheless at its heart a denial of the expressed democratic will of the vast majority of a people for national freedom and independence. Thankfully today the people of Ireland, through the Good Friday Agreement, have a peaceful opportunity to end partition and establish independence. The people of Belarus need to hear from the elected representatives in the Oireachtas that we stand with them in their peaceful defence of democratic principles and fundamental human rights. They need to know we stand with them in their demands for free and fair elections; for an end to the mass arrests and the detention of those who oppose the Lukashenko Government; and for the removal of the restrictions on the Internet and independent media and the shutdown of other media outlets.

I would like to add the voice of the Sinn Féin Seanadóirí to our party's Deputies in condemning the act of international piracy that other Senators have referred to in this debate by the Lukashenko regime when it hijacked a Ryanair flight in May and seized and imprisoned the journalist and opponent, Roman Protasevich, and his girlfriend, Sofia Sapega. I hope that the people of Belarus will take heart from the Irish Government's commitments to keep the situation there high on the international agenda, including at the United Nations Human Rights Council and at meetings of the UN Security Council. The hijacking of the aeroplane was a deliberate and high-profile act of international intimidation. It was not only designed to strike fear into the opposition in Belarus but also to frighten those opposed to Lukashenko's regime outside of Belarus. The hijacking had the simple message that no place is safe from Lukashenko's reach. In that regard, it is crucial that the members of the Belarusian community in Ireland see the Irish Government take a welcome international position and provide protection and reassurance to those who live here that they are safe. Lukashenko has attempted to increase pressure on the Belarusian opposition who live abroad by targeting their families in Belarus. I, like my colleagues in the Dáil, commend the sanctions that have been imposed on Lukashenko's Government by the European Union. This is correct and in order with the rule of international law. When nation states are found guilty of breaking international law, they must know they will face consequences in proportion to the crimes they have committed. It is, therefore, disturbing to say the least that some eastern European countries that have been most vocal about the oppressive behaviour of Lukashenko have been silent about human rights abuses by other Governments elsewhere in the world. I am thinking, in particular, about the Israeli Government's repeated abuse of international human rights and laws, and its persecution of the Palestinian people. It is correct that the EU imposes sanctions against Belarus but it is shameful that it has refused to impose sanctions against the Israeli Government for its crimes against humanity that have killed hundreds of Palestinians, including children.

I listened with much interest and respect to the opening remarks made by Senator Ward and the Minister this evening. Senator Ward spoke about the proximity of Belarus to the EU. He is absolutely right that this should give us cause for concern and compel the EU to act. This also made me think about the Spanish Government's oppression of the Catalan people and their expressed democratic will when they sought to do what we did when we gathered in the Mansion House in Dublin two years ago to honour and remember what happened in this country, and that was to adhere to the expressed democratic will of the people and establish a democratic government and national independence. Spain is in the EU. I agree with other colleagues that we may have different priorities as elected representatives, and I am glad that there is unanimity in the House tonight, but I agree with the sentiment that we need to be consistent in our approach.

The Irish Government is right to stand up for the international rule of law but in doing so it must show leadership in ensuring the same respect and support is shown to others around the world as it is to the people of Belarus. If it is right, and it is, to impose EU sanctions on the Government of Belarus then it is also right for the EU to impose sanctions on the Israeli Government, as just one example. It would also be right to act against Spain for its actions in oppressing the Catalan people and their elected representatives, who are people like us, whether they come from councils or other assemblies, and trying to silence the voice of media outlets.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter. There is a genuine sincerity across the House in wanting to assist the Minister in anything that he is doing. I ask that this House conveys to the Belarusian people that they have our solidarity and support today and going forward.

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