§ Mr. BestTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the UK Government will raise the plight of ethnic minorities in Burma at the United Nations Security Council. [132252]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Government are encouraging all the appropriate bodies of the UN to tackle the issue of helping bring about national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy in Burma. Should Burma feature on the Security Council agenda, the Government would ensure that the plight of Burma's ethnic groups was taken fully into account.
§ Mr. BestTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government is making to the Burmese regime about the treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi. [132250]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe UK has made numerous representations to the Burmese authorities about the detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. I spoke to the Burmese ambassador to the UK on 1 September to register the UK's grave concern about the continued detention and treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi. We have also discussed this issue with ASEAN and other countries and encouraged them to raise the treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi with the Burmese Junta. While Aung San Suu Kyi's release from detention to home arrest on 26 September was a step in the right direction, the regime must go much further and fully release her and her NLD colleagues and engage in genuine dialogue to reach national reconciliation.