UK MPs ask questions in the House of Commons regarding Sri Lanka and alleged human rights abuses

Sri Lanka

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State most recently visited Sir Lanka; which Ministers and officials in the government of Sri Lanka he met; whether the export of military, security or police equipment was discussed; and if he will make a statement. [77404]

Alistair Burt: I visited Sri Lanka between 21 and 23 February. I met the Economic Development Minister, Basil Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Foreign Minister, GL Peiris. I also met with members of the Tamil National Alliance and the United National Party. The export of military, security and police equipment was not discussed.

Sri Lanka: Human Rights

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received reports of human rights abuses committed against those of Tamil origin in Sri Lanka since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77355]

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Alistair Burt: We continue to have concerns about human rights in Sri Lanka. These are detailed in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights and Democracy Report 2010 where Sri Lanka is listed as a country of concern. Our high commission in Colombo continues to monitor the situation.

We consistently raise our concerns with the Sri Lankan Government, most recently when I spoke to the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister on 20 October. We also regularly urge the Sri Lankan Government to improve the human rights situation for vulnerable groups, to investigate incidents and to prosecute those responsible.

Tibet: Human Rights

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Government of China on (a) the human rights situation in Tibet and (b) the well-being of Lobsang Kalsang, Lobsang Konchok and Kalsang Wangchuk; and if he will make a statement. [77828]

Mr Jeremy Browne: Tibet was discussed at the last round of the UK-China Human Rights dialogue in January 2011, and the dialogue also included an expert workshop on minority rights and languages, an area of particular relevance to Tibet. Ministers have regularly raised our concerns about the human rights situation in Tibet with China at the highest political levels.

We are particularly concerned at recent reports that a nun and young monks, including Lobsang Kalsang, Lobsang Konchock and Kalsang Wangchuk, in Tibetan areas of Sichuan province have self-immolated. I have written to the Chinese ambassador in April this year raising my concerns regarding the situation at the Kirti monastery. More recently Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have raised their concerns with the Chinese embassy in London and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, urging the Chinese Government to work with local monasteries and communities to resolve the grievances which have led to these self-immolations. Our embassy officials in China make regular visits to Tibetan areas, and have done so recently. We have kept in frequent contact with the Foreign Affairs Office in Sichuan and local Public Security Bureau offices regarding access to these areas.

Our consistent position has been that long-term stability can only be achieved through respect for human rights and genuine autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the Chinese constitution. Meaningful dialogue between the Dalai Lama's representatives and the Chinese authorities is the best way to make this happen.