Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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The human rights situation in Myanmar is worsening, with security forces committing atrocities including sexual violence and village burnings. The UK has imposed sanctions to target the regime's credibility.
What recent assessment have you made of the human rights situation in Myanmar?
The human rights situation in Myanmar is appalling. The regime has cracked down on any dissent. The security forces continue to commit atrocities, including acts of sexual violence and village burnings. The UK has worked quickly, in close co-ordination with partners, to impose 13 tranches of sanctions to target the regime's credibility and its access to finance, weapons and equipment.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q2
Partial Answer
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The Myanmar junta continues to receive support from Russian and Burmese companies despite sanctions. The UK has provided £49.4 million in aid, including £24 million for lifesaving assistance.
Can the Minister assure us that the Government will put in the resources needed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to ensure that those companies are sanctioned, and that consideration will be given to sanctioning aviation fuel?
The UK Government continue to condemn the military coup in Myanmar, the violence against the people, and the arbitrary detention of members of the Government and civil society. In 2021-22, we provided £49.4 million in aid to Myanmar, including £24 million of lifesaving assistance for 600,000 people. We are committed to preventing the flow of arms to Myanmar, so we continue to impose targeted sanctions to undermine the regime's credibility and to target its access to finance and arms. As the hon. Lady knows, we continue to monitor all issues around future sanctions.
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Assessment & feedback
Committing additional resources or considering sanctioning aviation fuel was not explicitly addressed
As The Hon. Lady Knows, We Continue To Monitor All Issues Around Future Sanctions.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Despite the implementation of an arms embargo and targeted sanctions, components for weapons are still arriving in Myanmar. The UK relies on regional partners to address this issue.
What steps are the Government taking with regional partners to crack down on the flow of weapons components to Myanmar?
As I have said, we are committed to preventing the flow of arms to Myanmar, and we continue to impose those targeted sanctions. We can use those tools to undermine the regime's credibility and to target its access to finance and arms. Most recently, we issued a new suite of sanctions to mark Human Rights Day in December 2022.
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Assessment & feedback
Steps taken with regional partners were not specified
We Can Use Those Tools To Undermine The Regime'S Credibility And To Target Its Access To Finance And Arms
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Q4
Direct Answer
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Atrocities continue in Myanmar despite international condemnation. The UK relies on brave individuals sharing information.
Can my right hon. Friend tell me what we are doing to support those highlighting the atrocious actions of the Myanmar junta?
The challenge of being able to know what those atrocities are is difficult, and we rely on those who are brave enough to share their information. We established the Myanmar Witness programme, run by the Centre for Information Resilience, which gathers and reports on open-source information on serious human rights violations. Incredibly brave people are working with our teams to make sure that we understand more of what is going on.
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Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Myanmar's military destroyed a historic Christian church, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption. The UK condemns discrimination against religious freedom.
What are the Government doing to ensure that Christians are protected and allowed to thrive?
My hon. Friend knows that the UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all, and we absolutely condemn any instances of discrimination or attempts to destroy places of worship. We continue to work with our international partners to make those points, and we continue to review sanctions on those causing that sort of destruction.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific actions to protect Christians were not detailed
We Continue To Work With Our International Partners
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Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK is the penholder on Myanmar at the United Nations. There are concerns about inadvertent use of shipping or industry to facilitate components, fuel or weapons to persecute.
Which members of British industry has the Minister met to discuss the inadvertent use of shipping or other forms of industry to allow or somehow facilitate the Tatmadaw to get components, fuel or weapons?
I will be visiting the region next week, and I will be meeting a number of organisations to hear some of the issues they are concerned about. The hon. Lady raises the important question of those businesses that are still supporting, and there are some things we need to look at closely. We use our sanctions where we can, but I will be continuing to meet and hear from all those who can help us to understand how we can most effectively use our tools to stop anything that supports the junta.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific meetings with British industry were named or committed
We Use Our Sanctions Where We Can, But I Will Be Continuing To Meet And Hear From All Those Who Can Help Us
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