Contributions made to the House yesterday (18th of January) on the Rohingya crisis and the re-legalisation of medicinal cannabis.
Select Committee Statement on International Development
All of us who visited the Kutupalong site had an experience that was overwhelming and heartbreaking. We heard at first hand the terror of the refugees at the possibility of repatriation, and the only possible practical way to achieve that is with support from the United Nations or the British Army. We have a wonderful record of peacekeeping in these impossible circumstances. Is that not the best way, although a very difficult way, to go forward and to ensure there can be a long-term solution?
I thank my hon. Friend. In a sense, that question takes us back to the question from the hon. Member for Beckenham (Bob Stewart) at the beginning. I absolutely agree. One of the dangers with these crises is that they hit the headlines for a time, and then the attention of the media and the political world moves on. It is vital that we do not allow that to happen. This is about addressing the crisis now but also being there to support long-term solutions, and a potential role for UK peacekeepers is part of that.
Business Questions
In the Welsh Assembly yesterday, Mark Isherwood, a Conservative Member, won by 31 to two a vote on a motion asking this House to re-legalise medicinal cannabis. Will the Government follow suit and give a fair wind to my private Member’s Bill, which would liberate seriously ill people from the threat of prosecution for using their medicine of choice?
The hon. Gentleman has championed this issue in the House. As he knows, the Government keep the matter under review, but it is not our policy to legalise the use of cannabis.
I'm still very much learning, Paul, and I don't pretend otherwise. That said:
I'd like to see more representation of and from amongst the refugee community themselves. And no more talk of them as a long-term financial 'burden' either. If any of our fellow people deserve some kind of happy solution, these poor people do. There is an extent to which we might say, 'we can only offer partial solutions' given our limited means, but I see no problem in pushing for improvement. They must have a voice. Marginalised as second-class at home, struggling to bear the hardships abroad, they must be given dignity and treated like they deserve it. It is only right that others should strengthen them, encourage them and stand in their corner. That they aren't allowed to feel inferior or unwanted, despite the despicable treatment they have suffered.
They've a right to defend themselves, and as they cannot, others should. If that requires peace-keeping troops on the ground and some sterner diplomatic representation to the Burmese civil and military authorities, so be it. They must have equal status, equal rights, and a protected right to live without fear of persecution. They certainly need help and it is down to the likes of the UK, and hopefully many other like minded polities and global institutions.
Their persecutors must be told straight, they are shameful, and sooner or later must be brought to their senses. To stop the ethnic cleansing, contemptible abuse and large scale war crimes and acquiesce to change. When even children are being gang raped, mutilated, murdered, well, why? Just how deep does this bigotry, hate and division run; that is - by the Burmese against the Rohingya minority? It cannot be allowed. We cannot stand to see a person or people treated with such base wickedness, and it must be remedied. We owe it to them. That should cut across religious, cultural and national lines such as they are, always. And if they are a 'burden', well then we should be eager and happy to bear it. So, a good and worthwhile angle would be to at least try and begin to drain some of that poison. Through reason I suppose.
And no, there isn't an easy short or long-term solution. There can though be no excuses now that the situation has, or will have, wide attention and mounting evidence. It is better understood. Time to act.
Posted by: Ad | January 19, 2018 at 10:55 PM