Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the UK is taking with the UN to negotiate the restoration of human rights in Myanmar.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK has been at the forefront of the international response to the coup in Myanmar. Following the coup, we urgently convened the UN Security Council and secured a statement on 4 February which called for the protection of human rights. On 12 February we co-led a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council where a resolution calling for an end to human rights violations taking place in Myanmar was passed by consensus. In response to escalating violence we convened the Council again on 5 March and secured a Presidential Statement on 10 March which called for the restoration of democracy, respect for human rights and condemned violence against peaceful protestors. I [Minister Adams] have also met the UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar and the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Myanmar to discuss human rights in Myanmar.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the UK is taking to co-ordinate with other international powers for a global arms embargo on the Tatmadaw.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK is a longstanding supporter of an arms embargo on Myanmar. We are clear that no international power should sell arms to the Myanmar military. The UK autonomous Myanmar sanctions regulations prohibit the provision of military related services, including the provision of technical assistance, to or for the benefit of the Tatmadaw. We will work closely with partners to pressure those who sell arms to the military.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans his Department has to extend the existing UK sanctions on 25 individuals to others within the command structure of the Tatmadaw.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK, in conjunction with partners including the US and Canada, have announced targeted sanctions against nine high-ranking military officials for their role in serious human rights violations during the coup. We are actively consulting with partners on further measures, including additional sanctions. We are determined to impose a cost on the Myanmar military and we will consider all tools at our disposal. These sanctions follow the 16 individuals from the Myanmar military who were previously listed by the UK for human rights violations.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the legitimacy of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in Myanmar.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), which is composed of many individuals who were elected in November 2020, are an important voice for many in Myanmar. We coordinated with them to read out excerpts from their statements at the Special Session of the Human Rights Council on 12 February, and at the UN General Assembly meeting on 26 February.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with countries that have not imposed sanctions on Myanmar on imposing sanctions on that country.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We believe sanctions are an important tool to increase pressure on the Myanmar military and we are working closely with partners to coordinate on further sanctions.
The UK, in conjunction with partners including the US and Canada, has announced targeted sanctions against nine high-ranking military officials and we continue to work in concert with our partners and allies on additional measures, including further sanctions.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the UK government plans to take in relation to the needs of the 322 Myanmar university students who were arrested and imprisoned in Tamwe, Yangon.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK is clear that people's rights to freedom of expression and to protest must be respected. We have called on the military regime to release all those who have been detained arbitrarily and to respect the right to freedom of assembly. It is unacceptable that so many people have been detained, injured or killed in the struggle for democracy. The UK has already imposed sanctions on nine individuals for their role in serious human rights violations, including violating the right to liberty and security. We are determined to impose a cost on the Myanmar military and we are working with partners to ensure a strong and coordinated response, using all tools at our disposal.