PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Burma: Human Rights (7 July 2015)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports the Government has received on human rights violations by the Burmese Army in Kachin state, Burma; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

We receive regular media reports of continued heavy fighting in Kachin State. This includes reports of an escalation of violence in June, involving clashes in the vicinity of Hpakant. It is difficult to independently verify these reports owing to a lack of access to conflict affected areas, but a DFID team visited from 8-11 June to assess the effect of conflict on the civilian population, including on the over 100,000 displaced people currently living in camps.

We remain very concerned that the continued conflict sustains an environment where human rights violations, including the sexual abuse of women caught up in the conflict, can and do occur, as was starkly demonstrated by the terrible case of the two teachers raped and killed in January this year in neighbouring Shan State. We have made clear to the government of Burma that any allegations of human rights abuses must be dealt with through a clear, independent and transparent investigative and prosecutorial process that meets international standards.

Answered by:
Lord Swire (Conservative)
13 July 2015