§ 10. Mr. Clive Soley (Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush)What recent contacts he has had with the Myanmar Government concerning the restoration of democracy and the rule of law. [44523]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Derek Fatchett)We regularly raise our concerns with the Burmese Government. Our ambassador in Rangoon had discussions with the Burmese Foreign Minister most recently on 4 May. He also remains in regular contact with opposition leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi. We have used our European Union presidency to renew EU measures against the regime and drafted this year's United Nations Commission on Human Rights resolution on Burma.
§ Mr. SoleyI am pleased to hear that reply and am anxious that the name of Aung San Suu Kyi should not fall out of the news again. Have we been able to use our influence with the Association of South-East Asian Nations, which could apply pressure to ensure change in the regime?
§ Mr. FatchettIn all our contacts with ASEAN countries we impress on them our view that there is a need for democratic change in Burma—the need to recognise the role of the opposition parties and the important contribution to the future of Burma that could be made by Aung San Suu Kyi. We want the ASEAN 131 nations to resolve the matter internally. The United Kingdom Government and the European Union have taken their position. We consider Burma's violation of human rights wholly unacceptable and we shall continue to put that message across to all those in ASEAN and elsewhere who will listen.
§ Mr. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield)Will the Minister pay tribute to the vernacular language transmissions of the BBC World Service to Burma? Has he been able to assess their effectiveness in at least influencing some people in Burma to look for a restoration of democracy?
§ Mr. FatchettI am always glad to pay tribute to the work of the BBC World Service, which makes an important contribution not just in communicating British values and democratic values, but in ensuring that many people in many parts of the world hear an objective news service that would otherwise be denied them. That is true in Burma, as in many other countries. I hope that it has had some impression on those who have power in Burma. I am afraid that I cannot be over-optimistic about that, but we shall continue to work towards the same objective.