Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-11-30-Speech-3-068"
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"en.20051130.11.3-068"2
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".
Madam President, it is perhaps a coincidence that I am not only UK Trade Minister but also the UK foreign minister with responsibility for human rights. It is a great pleasure to be present here at the European Parliament, and to speak to you as the representative of the UK Presidency and on behalf of the Council, on this important subject.
Frankly, that is not happening in Cambodia today. The Council is concerned over recent developments affecting the democratic opposition. I appreciate that you also share that concern, judging from your resolution on Cambodia in March and the briefing Sam Rainsy, the Cambodian opposition leader, delivered to the public hearing here on 12 September. Mr Rainsy has visited a number of EU countries, including my own. The Council has expressed its concern over this issue several times recently; for example, on 15 February, over the suspension of the Parliamentary immunity of three members of the opposition; and again on 19 August over the jail sentences imposed on members of the Sam Rainsy Party. We are particularly concerned over the situation of Cheam Channy, who is in prison; the EU Troika raised its concerns over his case directly with the Government of Cambodia most recently on 11 November, during a demarche over freedom of expression.
We urge the political leadership of Cambodia to allow all political parties to operate free of hindrance or intimidation and to allow NGOs and all civil society to play a full part in Cambodia's democratic development.
In Laos, the Council has a number of concerns over the human rights situation. We again share honourable Members' concern in particular over freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and the situation of the Hmong people. We are aware that a number of Hmong people have emerged from remote areas in recent months to re-join Lao society and we are encouraged by reports that these people are being treated humanely. We call on the Government of Laos to continue to do so, to ensure they are secure and free from intimidation, and to continue to provide them with the necessary humanitarian assistance.
The Council's contacts with the Lao authorities are limited. However, I can assure honourable Members that every opportunity is taken to raise our concerns over human rights and governance issues; for example, the EU Heads of Mission did so with the Foreign Minister of Laos on 10 November. We are encouraged by some recent positive signs, for example in the field of freedom of religion and in the creation of a Human Rights Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Laos.
The Council's relations with Vietnam are more substantial; and here too we work hard to ensure proper priority is given in our relationship to the issue of human rights. We hold a regular Human Rights Dialogue with the Vietnamese Government, covering all key areas of concern, for example, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, the use of the death penalty, and the situation in the Central Highlands.
The next meeting will be held on 12 December, but we use other opportunities to raise human rights concerns as well. For example, the EU Troika Heads of Mission did so during their visit to the Central Highlands last week. Such visits are very important: they enable Heads of Mission to see the situation of the ethnic minorities there at first hand, including those who have chosen to return to the Central Highlands from Cambodia. That is why the Council will continue to press for free access for diplomats and international organisations. We welcome Vietnam's increasing cooperation with the UNHCR, including in the context of the tripartite agreement with Cambodia; and we welcome too signs that those Montagnard refugees returning from Cambodia have been well treated. We will continue to monitor this issue very closely; and to work hard through development aid activities to improve living conditions for ethnic minorities in the region.
We use our contacts with the Vietnamese authorities also to raise issues of individual concern. The EU maintains a list of prisoners and detainees of concern, and takes every opportunity to raise the issue of detention and treatment of people on the list. I am pleased to report some tangible progress here. The Council welcomes the release, so far in 2005, of 12 persons on the list. These are positive steps and we hope the trend continues. We also welcome Vietnam's agreement for the EU to visit two individuals on the list – Thich Quang Do and Than Van Truong – so that we can assess their situation. However, 22 people remain on the list and we will continue to call for their early release.
The Council regrets, though, that none of those on the EU's list imprisoned in violation of their right to freedom of expression have been released so far. While there are some encouraging signs, the fact remains that in practice freedom of expression is not respected in Vietnam. This is a fundamental human right and a vital element of good governance; so the Council will continue to call on Vietnam to ensure protection of freedom of expression.
We recognise too that many of Vietnam's people are suffering for their religious beliefs. There is particular harassment of members of unrecognised religious groups and house churches. Freedom of religion should not be subject to licensing or state permission: it should be a matter for individual conscience.
Here too there have been some recent grounds for cautious optimism. We welcome the 2004 Ordinance on Belief and Religion and this year's Prime Minister's Instructions on Protestantism as modest steps forward. We want to see now a speeding-up of implementation of this legislation, an easing of restrictions on unrecognised religious groups allowing them to register themselves. Vietnam must end official harassment of non-recognised religious groups.
I welcome the European Parliament's interest in this topic – as shown by the public hearing here on 12 September – and by the various resolutions you have passed on the matter.
To conclude, the Council shares honourable Members' concern over the human rights situation in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Human rights remains an important part of the EU's relationship with these countries. We will continue to raise these issues directly with the governments concerned, and will continue to press them to meet their international human rights standards.
I know from my own position as a UK Minister that there is a great deal of Parliamentary and public concern about human rights in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. This year, for example, I and my colleagues have so far received over 100 letters from UK Members of Parliament about the human rights situation in Vietnam alone and it is an issue that is debated on a regular basis within the UK Parliament.
We have a duty to respond to this concern. Human rights must be an important feature of the European Union's relations with those countries. This is right, not just because it is a matter of concern to people in the European Union; it is also right in itself, because we have a duty to help improve, where we can, the conditions under which the people live in these countries.
We must engage with these countries in an honest dialogue about human rights, being frank where performance falls below international standards, but also recognising improvements where they occur. If we are to have such an honest dialogue with these countries, we must base it on an accurate picture of what is happening. We harm our own case if we do not base it on accurate information.
All this also means that we must do all we can to work with these countries for tangible improvements in human rights. It means giving practical support to ordinary people, alleviating where we can the impact of poverty, corruption and unemployment.
I realise some honourable Members believe strongly that the human rights situation in these countries is so bad that the Council must take punitive action – through blanket EU sanctions or through a cut or even a complete abandonment of EU aid. Let me say right away that, while we recognise the strength of feeling on this matter, there is no support in the Council for such drastic action, because we believe this would risk harming the very people we are trying to help – the poorest and most vulnerable people. We believe that a critical dialogue with the governments of these countries is the best approach – and that this engagement can and does bring some results.
Let me take Cambodia first. The tragic history of Cambodia requires special measures to ensure the protection of human rights, and to ensure that we never again see the terrible scale of murder and devastation inflicted on the people of Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge era. I am pleased to note here that a number of EU Member States, and the European Commission, have contributed financial and practical support for the establishment of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. We look forward to the early start of the Tribunal's proceedings.
The Council shares honourable Members' concerns over the current political and human rights situation in Cambodia, and is following the situation closely. We have particular concerns over the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, human trafficking, violence against civil and political activists, impunity and corruption. We want to see real democratic development in Cambodia. This means that government, political parties and civil society must work together to build an environment conducive to legitimate political activity."@en1
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