Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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40. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the recent acts of severe repression carried out by the army and state institutions in Pakistan against opposition politicians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28775/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the issues that have arisen in Pakistan in recent weeks following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and subsequent protests, demonstrations and arrests. I am concerned in relation to reports of plans to try civilians in military courts.

My Department regularly engages with Pakistan, both bilaterally and multilaterally, on political and human rights issues in the country. Senior officials from the Department held bilateral and political consultations with the Pakistani Foreign Ministry in Islamabad on 18 May, during which the current domestic political situation and human rights issues were discussed in detail.

The promotion and protection of universal human rights is a cornerstone of Irish foreign policy, including the freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, freedom to participate in the political process. Human rights is an important part of the EU-Pakistan dialogue and human rights concerns will be raised by during the upcoming meeting of the EU-Pakistan Sub-Group on Democracy, Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights, and EU-Pakistan Joint Commission on 22 and 23 June 2023, respectively.

The Embassy of Ireland in Türkiye, which is accredited to Pakistan, continues to closely monitor the situation, in close consultation with the European Union Delegation in Islamabad and EU partners on the ground.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I remain gravely concerned by the ongoing violence in Myanmar. The military coup in Myanmar has resulted in at more than 3,600 deaths. In recent days, brutal attacks on civilians in villages in Ye township, Mon State and in the Sagaing Region resulted in the maiming and killing of innocent people.

1.8 million people have been displaced, 400,000 of them in the last three months. 17.6 million people, or a third of Myanmar’s population, are in humanitarian need. Access to vital assistance has been severely impeded by ongoing fighting, the closure of IDP camps, and the suspension of travel authorisations for humanitarian organisations. In May, an ASEAN convoy delivering aid to displaced villagers came under fire in Myanmar’s eastern Shan state.

Looking ahead, I am concerned about further instability and violence if the military calls elections. It is inconceivable that fair, free and legitimate elections could be held, particularly in the context of the ongoing detention of political figures and the introduction by the military of the Myanmar Political Parties Registration Law.

Ireland, and our EU partners, fully supports ASEAN's five-point consensus towards a peaceful resolution. In May ASEAN leaders met and addressed the ongoing crisis. They reiterated ASEAN’s continued engagement with all stakeholders to find a peaceful and durable solution, that is Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led, to create a conducive environment for facilitating an inclusive national dialogue.

Ireland remains actively engaged on the crisis. Myanmar remains a priority on the EU agenda, including the imposition of sanctions. We have consistently raised the situation in Myanmar at the United Nations Human Rights Council. Ireland’s active engagement on Myanmar follows on from our efforts during our term on the United Nations Security Council, during which we pro-actively supported Resolution 2669.

Ireland has provided €500,000 to the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund this year with additional funding of €456,984 to Trócaire, particularly to mitigate the impact of Cyclone Mocha which hit Myanmar on 14 May, affecting 3.2 million people. Total funding from Ireland on Myanmar since the coup, including responding to the needs of Rohingya refugees, amounts to €7,146,132.