Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the illegal Indonesian occupation of Maluku and the human rights abuses that are committed by the Indonesian Government and military against Malukan persons including the denial of the right to self-determination; the unjust detention and ill-treatment of political prisoners and the overt policies to break down the Malukan culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31038/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the situation in Maluku, known to many as the Moluccas, in eastern Indonesia. Violence erupted between Christian and Muslim communities in 1999, resulting in the deaths of as many as 5,000 people since then and the displacement of many more. A peace agreement brokered in 2002 by the current Indonesian Vice-President, Jusuf Kalla, substantially reduced the violence and reports indicate that the human rights situation has improved since 2003.

However, on 25 April 2004 violence erupted again, resulting in the deaths of 38 people in the city of Ambon, after a small group of independence supporters held a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of a short-lived separatist struggle in 1950. Sporadic outbreaks of violence throughout 2005 including the attack on a security post on the island of Ceram in May 2005, killing seven people, show that the peace remains fragile.

The Government believes the most productive approach to dealing with human rights in Maluku and similar situations in other areas of conflict in Indonesia including in Aceh and in Papua is through contact with the Government of Indonesia.

Ireland and our EU partners continue to monitor the political situation in Indonesia and human rights issues are regularly raised in discussions with the Indonesian authorities. The former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, did so in his meeting with the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr. Wirajuda, in the margins of the UN General Assembly in September 2004. These concerns had previously been raised with Mr. Wirajuda in April 2004, during an EU Troika meeting held during the Irish Presidency of the EU. The EU Troika of Foreign Ministers again met Mr. Wirajuda in Jakarta on 10 March 2005. Human rights issues were discussed at these meetings also. EU heads of mission in Jakarta also raise human rights issues during regular political dialogue meetings with the Indonesian authorities.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council, at its meeting on 11 October 2004, adopted conclusions on Indonesia which reiterated the EU's attachment to a united, democratic, stable and prosperous Indonesia and also reiterated the EU's respect for the territorial integrity of Indonesia. The Council encouraged the Indonesian Government to seek peaceful solutions in conflict and potential conflict areas. Together with our EU partners, the Government will continue to monitor closely the situation and raise human rights concerns regarding Maluku in our discussions with the Indonesian authorities.