Burma: Rohingya

(asked on 7th September 2017) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they will seek to take through the UN Security Council in response to the crisis in Rakhine State, Burma, following the recent discussions in the Security Council.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 25th September 2017

The UK has raised Burma twice at the UN Security Council since the outbreak of the current violence, and secured the Council's first press elements on Burma in eight years. I refer the Noble Lord to the UK Permanent Representative's remarks to the press following the 13 September Security Council consultations, in which he said that the UK would get to work on further products, such as a Presidential Statement.

The UK has been active in other fora in response to the crisis in Rakhine. The Foreign Secretary convened a meeting of Foreign Ministers to discuss Rakhine at the UN General Assembly on 18 September, where he pressed for an end to the violence and full humanitarian access. The Minister of State, Rt Hon Mark Field MP discussed these points further in an OIC event at UNGA on 19 September.

The Prime Minister also urged the Burmese military to stop the violence in Rakhine State and announced the UK would suspend defence engagement until the issue is resolved.

I have also raised Burma in the Human Rights Council on 11 September, where I strongly condemned the violence and pressed the security forces, who are in the lead in Rakhine, to protect civilians and abide by international norms. The UK also discussed Burma during the Interactive Dialogue with the Fact Finding Mission on 19 September, and the Item 4 statement on the same day, and pressed Burma on the same points.

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