Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation in Burma. [1867/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I remain deeply concerned about the situation in Burma. Recent events there do not suggest that the military regime is in any way planning to ease its grip on the country. Aung San Suu Kyi remains firmly under house arrest and many other activists are also incarcerated. Further political activists were jailed in November last, in some cases for up to 65 years, in what appears to be a wide judicial crackdown against the pro-democracy movement in advance of elections scheduled for next year. Peaceful and spontaneous demonstrations, including those in 2007, have been mercilessly put down. The provisions of the new, deeply flawed, constitution adopted last year are designed to ensure a strong military role in the future governance of the country after promised elections.

As I have reported to the House on many previous occasions, the Government remains committed to helping the Burmese people in their struggle for justice, democracy and development. In pursuit of this goal, the Government has engaged in diplomatic activity at Ministerial and senior official level with Burma's neighbours and in international fora and provided support to groups working to promote democracy, human rights and development for the people of Burma. EU Foreign Ministers last discussed Burma at their meeting on 10 November. We called again for the lifting of restrictions placed on political parties in Burma and the early release of those under detention. We also stated our view that the elections scheduled for 2010 will have no credibility unless all political prisoners are released unconditionally, in particular Aung San Suu Kyi, and a political process is initiated with the support of the United Nations on the basis of an inclusive, long-term dialogue in which the opposition and ethnic groups can participate fully.

We very much regret that the UN Security Council has not been able to play the role it should in relation to Burma and the actions of the military regime. After the horrific events in Burma in September 2007, the entire international community committed itself to supporting the UN Secretary General's Good Offices Mission, but there has been insufficient sustained across-the-board political backing for it and, as a result, the regime continues to reject the efforts of the Secretary General's Special Envoy, Dr Ibrahim Gambari, to stimulate political and economic progress. He is planning a return visit, beginning at the end of this month, and is trying to link this to some commitments from the regime, including in relation to the release of political prisoners and a role for the UN in the preparation of the elections. There is some possibility of a visit by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon. This is something which we would very much welcome if it led to tangible progress.

Last week, my Department funded a visit to Ireland by the democratically-elected Members of Burmese Parliamentary Union and the members of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma to enable them to hold their Fourth Congress and Consultation Meeting here. The purpose of the meetings was to plan future strategy; seek to advance national reconciliation and union within Burma itself, and garner the support of the international community so that the process of democratisation in Burma can be furthered. I am delighted that we have been able to support their work in this way.