I have recently submitted several questions to government ministers about the current situation in Burma and the UK's response. Written questions allow Members of Parliament to ask government ministers for information on the work, policy and activities of government departments. Below you can find my questions and the responses I received.
Question:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will raise with the government of Burma the persecution of Rohingya people and reports of torture and murder by the military.
Answer (by Lord Bates, Department for International Development):
We have raised our concerns over the treatment of the Rohingya people with the Government of Burma over many years. In response to the most recent violence, I raised our concerns direct with the Ministers of Defence and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, when I visited Burma from 9-11 November. In those meetings I called for an urgent resumption of humanitarian aid and an independent investigation into allegations of recent human rights violations conducted by the security forces. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Alok Sharma), raised our concerns with the Burmese Minister of Construction when he visited London on 29 November. We will continue to raise our concerns at every appropriate opportunity.
Question:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Burmese ambassador to the UK has been summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to respond to the actions taken by the government of Burma and Burmese military in relation to the Rohingya people.
Answer (by Lord Bates, Department for International Development):
We have not summoned the Burmese Ambassador. I raised our concerns directly with the Minister of Defence and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, when I visited Burma from 9-11 November. In those meetings I called for an urgent resumption of humanitarian aid and an independent investigation into allegations of recent human rights violations conducted by the security forces. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Alok Sharma), raised our concerns with the Burmese Minister of Construction when he visited London on 29 November. Our Ambassador also raised the situation with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on 21 December.
Question:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, and if so to what extent, they are collaborating with the government of Bangladesh to support of the Burmese Rohingya people currently in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
Answer (by Baroness Anelay of St Johns, Foreign and Commonwealth Office):
The UK is providing emergency food relief to the new refugees through the World Food Programme. The UK is also the largest provider of food aid to the 34,000 Rohingya refugees already living in official camps in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh we are also increasing access to nutrition, health and education services for refugees living in makeshift settlements and the host communities that support them.
Question:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Ambassador to Burma has had one or more meetings with Aung San Suu Kyi regarding the treatment of Rohingya citizens.
Answer (by Baroness Anelay of St Johns, Foreign and Commonwealth Office):
We are deeply concerned about the treatment of the Rohingya community in Rakhine State of Burma. The British Ambassador discussed the situation in Rakhine with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on 21 December. He called for an urgent resumption of humanitarian access and steps to improve the situation on the ground. I also raised our concerns direct with the Ministers of Defence and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, when I visited Burma from 9-11 November. In those meetings I called for an urgent resumption of humanitarian aid and an independent investigation into allegations of recent human rights violations conducted by the security forces. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Alok Sharma), raised our concerns with the Burmese Minister of Construction when he visited London on 29 November.
Question:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, and if so to what extent, they are collaborating with the government of Bangladesh to support of the Burmese Rohingya people currently in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
Answer (by Baroness Anelay of St Johns, Foreign and Commonwealth Office):
The UK is providing emergency food relief to the new refugees through the World Food Programme. The UK is also the largest provider of food aid to the 34,000 Rohingya refugees already living in official camps in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh we are also increasing access to nutrition, health and education services for refugees living in makeshift settlements and the host communities that support them.
