Baroness Chapman of Darlington, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL1784):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what action they are taking in response to the mass killing of Rohyingya people, including mainly women and children, in August by drone and artillery attacks in Maungdaw of the Rakhine State in Myanmar. (HL1784)
Tabled on: 21 October 2024
Answer:
Baroness Chapman of Darlington:
We are deeply concerned about the Rohingya communities’ situation in Rakhine state, Myanmar and were shocked by the attack on civilians fleeing Maungdaw in August. We continue to work with members of the United Nations Security Council and other international partners in calling for the protection of civilians by all parties and the need for unhindered humanitarian access to ensure support can reach the most vulnerable. We will continue to work with international partners to ensure there is accountability for acts committed against the Rohingya, including through the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Since 2017, the UK has provided over £48 million in aid including cash assistance, water, sanitation and hygiene services to the Rohingya and other Muslim minorities in Rakhine state. The UK has announced 19 rounds of targeted sanctions, most recently in October 2024 against suppliers of aviation fuel and equipment to the Myanmar military.
Date and time of answer: 05 Nov 2024 at 15:29.
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Baroness Chapman of Darlington, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL1783):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support calls for accountability for atrocity crimes in Myanmar by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; and what steps they are taking to support the case brought by The Gambia in the International Court of Justice against Myanmar for alleged breaches of the Genocide Convention committed against the Rohingya people. (HL1783)
Tabled on: 21 October 2024
Answer:
Baroness Chapman of Darlington:
The UK strongly condemns all human rights abuses in Myanmar. There must be accountability for the atrocities committed. In May, the UK coordinated a statement with partners calling for an immediate end to violence from all sides in Myanmar. In July 2024, the UK’s joint declaration of intervention, together with Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, was accepted by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case alleging Myanmar has perpetrated genocide against the Rohingya. The UK has provided £800,000 to the UN’s Independent Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) and established the Myanmar Witness programme to gather and preserve evidence of human rights violations in support of future prosecutions.
Date and time of answer: 05 Nov 2024 at 15:15.
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Baroness Chapman of Darlington, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL1844):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to seek the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Myanmar. (HL1844)
Tabled on: 22 October 2024
Answer:
Baroness Chapman of Darlington:
The UK condemns the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, and all others who have been detained arbitrarily. The charges against her are politically motivated. At the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and in a joint press statement with other international partners in July, we have consistently called for the full implementation of UNSC resolution 2669 (December 2022), which demands the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all those arbitrarily detained.
Date and time of answer: 05 Nov 2024 at 15:13.
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Baroness Chapman of Darlington, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL1845):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to appointing a special envoy for Myanmar to coordinate a comprehensive policy for that country, and to implementing measures similar to those contained in the BURMA Act of the United States. (HL1845)
Tabled on: 22 October 2024
Answer:
Baroness Chapman of Darlington:
Resolving the crisis in Myanmar is an important priority for the UK. Diplomatically, the UK uses its penholder role at the UNSC to support ASEAN’s leadership and maintain an international spotlight on the deteriorating situation. We also maintain an embassy in Yangon to manage our wide-ranging humanitarian programmes (over £150 million since the coup). Although the UK has not appointed a separate Special Envoy for Myanmar, we have attended, and will continue to attend, Special Envoys’ meetings to help resolve the crisis. We are committed to pressuring the military regime to change course through sanctions targeted at stopping its access to finance, arms and equipment. This includes a recent full sanctions programme announced in October 2024.
Date and time of answer: 05 Nov 2024 at 15:13.
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Baroness Chapman of Darlington, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL1846):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to empower the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar, in particular (1) the National Unity Government, (2) the ethnic nationalities, (3) civil society within the country and along its borders, (4) journalists, and (5) human rights defenders, in their work for a transition to genuine federal democracy for all the people of Myanmar. (HL1846)
Tabled on: 22 October 2024
Answer:
Baroness Chapman of Darlington:
The UK has announced 19 rounds of targeted sanctions, most recently in October 2024 against suppliers of aviation fuel and equipment to the Myanmar military. We continue to support all ASEAN efforts, including the 5 Point Consensus. ASEAN have explicitly asked the UK to back their efforts by keeping the UN Security Council united on Myanmar. In October, Indonesia convened a meeting for Special Envoys from across the international community, including the ASEAN Special Envoy and UN Special Envoy. Several international stakeholders, including the UK, sent senior officials to attend the meeting. The UK also provides aid frequently which supports the role of civil society to promote peace and stability in Myanmar.
Date and time of answer: 05 Nov 2024 at 15:12.
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