HL Deb 25 February 1992 vol 536 cc163-4

2.53 p.m.

Lord Ennals asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assistance they have offered to the Government of Bangladesh in coping with the recent problem of refugees from Burma.

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, we have made £100,000 available in response to an appeal received from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his Answer. Will he confirm that there are as many as 50,000 refugees who have crossed from Burma into Bangladesh? Is he aware that there are rumours of an agreement that they should be forced back into Burma? Does he agree that the circumstances in Burma are such that no one should be forced back into that country?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I understand that the figure given by the noble Lord of about 50,000 to 60,000 is roughly accurate. It is difficult to be absolutely precise because some 1,000 refugees arrive daily. I agree with the noble Lord that the situation in Burma is appalling. The treatment of the ethnic minorities—considered not to be true Burmese people —is something that we should condemn.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, can the Minister tell the House which country has been most obstructive in trying to bring about help to Burma? The other day he told us that the problem in bringing full assistance to Burma was that one or two of the surrounding countries were being unhelpful. Will he be so good as to name those countries?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the Question on the Order Paper is about the refugees who go to Bangladesh.

Baroness Strange

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his encouraging reply to the Question. Is he aware that I shall have great pleasure in passing it on to the wife of the former vice-president of Bangladesh when she has tea with me this afternoon?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I am most grateful to my noble friend. Perhaps she can inform her guest at tea that the appeal was issued on 11th February and that we responded on 12th February.

Lord Judd

My Lords, does the noble Earl agree that if we are concerned about refugees, we must be concerned about the cause for refugees. What are HMG doing, together with their partners in the European Community, through the Security Council to tackle the appalling situation within Burma itself? Furthermore, what representations have been made to China about the supply of arms by China to Burma?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, we have made a number of official statements both on a bilateral basis and through the European Community. Indeed, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State and I have raised the question of arms with the Chinese at recent meetings.

Lord Swinfen

My Lords, can my noble friend tell the House whether the Burmese army still occupies part of Bangladesh and whether it continues to put pressure on the Moslem community in the part of Burma that adjoins the border with Bangladesh, forcing those people to cross the border as refugees?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I cannot help my noble friend on his question about whether the Burmese are occupying part of Bangladesh. It is clear that they are putting enormous pressure on the Moslems, as a result of the action that they took—I believe, in 1982—which in their eyes differentiated those who were true Burmese and those who were not. On one side, on the Thai border, they are persecuting the Karens; on the other side, they are persecuting the Moslems.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, will the Minister confirm that there has been a European Community contribution in addition to the £100,000 referred to from the United Kingdom? If there should be a request from the UNHCR for assistance in dealing with any long-term refugee settlement, will the Government look sympathetically at it?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, we are grateful that the Bangladeshis approached the UNHCR, which has a team on the ground at the moment. We shall await the results before considering further action. The European Community has set aside £665,000 to be provided for aid. Of that, Britain pays 20 per cent., which will be about £133,000. At the moment, together with the Government's payment of £100,000 and £50,000 by the Red Cross, we are the largest donor.

Back to