John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 437: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the worsening human rights crisis in Zimbabwe, he will call on African Governments to speak out on the crisis there, urging them to call on the government of Zimbabwe to ensure an immediate investigation into the recent killing and violence, an end to further state torture and violence, protection for human rights defenders, and that key human rights, such as freedom of assembly and association, are restored in Zimbabwe; the steps he proposes to take through the auspices of the EU to do same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11699/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 438: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken in view of the worsening human rights crisis in Zimbabwe to ensure that the Irish Embassy responsible for Zimbabwe is complying with the EU guidelines on human rights defenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11700/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together.

The political, economic and human rights situation in Zimbabwe is a matter of the most serious concern. There is currently no indication that the Zimbabwean government is willing to alter the malign policies which have destroyed the country's economy. Nor is there any sign of an intention to introduce real and necessary democratic reforms. On the contrary, we have seen increased repression, with large-scale arrests of peaceful demonstrators. There is incontrovertible evidence that opposition activists, including Morgan Tsvangarai, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, have been seriously ill-treated in police detention following a peaceful church-sponsored rally organised by the Save Zimbabwe Campaign on 11 March.

Not only has the Zimbabwean Government failed to discharge its responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of those in custody, but the open and unapologetic attitude of President Mugabe and the Zimbabwean leadership to this shocking incident was outrageous. The police action in the break up of the protest contravenes the internationally recognised rights of freedom of speech and of assembly. The ill-treatment of those in custody also infringes international human rights standards, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, of which Zimbabwe is a signatory. On 12 March, the EU Presidency issued a statement on behalf of the Union condemning the violent break-up of the protest on 11 March and the ongoing violent suppression of the freedom of opinion and of assembly, as well as of other fundamental rights in Zimbabwe.

In a further development, on 18 March opposition MP Nelson Chamisa was arrested and brutally treated while on his way to an EU meeting in Brussels, while on 17 March two other opposition MPs were delayed in leaving Zimbabwe for medical treatment. The EU Presidency has issued a statement expressing its outrage at these acts and calling on the Zimbabwean Government to release all detained opposition politicians immediately, to enable them to have access to legal assistance and medical care, and to allow representatives of the EU Presidency to visit them.

I issued a statement earlier this month on behalf of the Government, condemning the disgraceful actions of the police, and expressing my condolences to the family of the protester who was killed. I urged the Zimbabwean government to cease suppressing the basic fundamental rights of its people. I noted that a new approach, which includes dialogue between all political forces, is needed to resolve Zimbabwe's serious political, social and economic problems. It is planned that Ireland will be among the countries making national statements on Zimbabwe when the UN Human Rights Council considers the situation there tomorrow. Now is the time for the international community, including the EU and the members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to work together to help bring about peaceful change in Zimbabwe. I agree that Zimbabwe's African neighbours have an especially important role to play.

African Union President John Kufuor of Ghana, AU chairman Alpha Konare, and Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa have all spoken of their concern at events in Zimbabwe. President Kikwete of Tanzania visited Harare earlier this month and met with government and opposition leaders in an attempt to influence the situation positively. Events in Zimbabwe will be discussed at a SADC meeting in Tanzania on 28-29 March. I hope the leaders of those countries which are most affected by the overspill of Zimbabwe's problems will speak out and highlight instances where the policies of the Mugabe government contravene the human rights standards on which Africa seeks to base its future development.

As a mark of the EU's concern, EU Presidencies in the SADC countries have taken the step of expressing to their host governments' the concern of the EU and its Member States about the recent developments in Zimbabwe. A special meeting of EU officials has been scheduled for 4 April to focus on Zimbabwe only . The EU already has restrictive measures in place against the leadership of Zimbabwe, and last month the Common Position on these restrictive measures was renewed until February 2008. These measures are designed to affect the Zimbabwean leadership, without adding to the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe.

The Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria monitors allegations of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. The Embassy raises issues of concern in relation to human rights with the Zimbabwean government at all levels and at every available opportunity — most recently when our Ambassador to South Africa, who is also accredited to Zimbabwe, presented credentials in Harare on 23 February 2007. I have instructed Ambassador Wrafter to travel to Harare to convey our concerns directly and forcefully to the Zimbabwean authorities, and he has requested an urgent appointment with them.

I am acutely conscious of the suffering caused by the dire economic situation in Zimbabwe, and of the need to provide support directly to the ordinary people there. Irish Aid is continuing to provide assistance for the people of Zimbabwe, through NGO partners and through UN agencies. Total Irish Aid funding to the Zimbabwean people in 2006 amounted to almost €8 million. So far in 2007, Irish Aid has given €2.4m in emergency and recovery assistance to Zimbabwe. A further €3m has been allocated for local NGOs which are working on HIV/Aids, and €1.4 million will be allocated to Trócaire and Concern.