Press freedom and the rule of law are fundamental to any democratic society, and journalists must be allowed to work freely and without intimidation. The British Ambassador has been clear in making this point, and recently raised this case with Burma’s Minister for International Cooperation. The UK will continue to work hard to support media freedom within Myanmar.

A number of civil society and media representatives from Myanmar will be invited to the Global Conference for Media Freedom. Invitations are still being finalised so we are unable to confirm individual attendees at this point. We would always consider the safety of the individual concerned before offering any invite, particularly if they are in hiding.

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We do not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 14 October 2014 (PQ 234069). We keep all Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice, including for the United Arab Emirates, under constant review to ensure it reflects our assessment of risk to British nationals and includes information and advice on the most relevant issues for British nationals travelling or living abroad.

We are concerned by the arrest and detention of Pastor Wang Yi and his wife Jiang Rong. We have raised our concerns about the closure of some churches, including the Early Rain Covenant Church, under China’s recently updated regulations on religious affairs.

We remain concerned by the restrictions placed on Christianity and other religions in China, which include individuals being harassed or detained for their beliefs. The freedom to practise, change or share one's faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a human right that all people should enjoy. We believe that societies which aim to guarantee freedom of religion or belief are more stable, prosperous and resilient against violent extremism.

We are robust in raising the full range of our human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities. We raised our concerns over restriction of freedom of religion or belief as part of China’s Universal Periodic Review in November 2018, and in our 27 June 2018 statement at the UN Human Rights Council.

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We closely followed the October 2018 detention in Thailand of approximately 100 people, mainly from Pakistan, whom the Thai authorities considered illegal immigrants. This followed arrests and refoulment of Cambodian and Vietnamese nationals in August 2018.

On 2 November 2018, the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and UN, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, spoke to the Thai ambassador in London to raise our concerns over the detention of foreign nationals, including nationals of Pakistan, in Thailand. The British Embassy Bangkok also raised the issues with the Ministry of the Interior. We believe that the actions of the Thai authorities are not aimed at any specific group or groups, but apply to anyone whom they deem an illegal visa over-stayer. The UK has repeatedly urged Thailand to sign the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees. The UNHCR are working closely with the Royal Thai Government over asylum, resettlement issues, and improving conditions for genuine claimants, for example by giving them documentation that allows them to access services and protected them from persecution. We are also working with the Thai authorities to improve conditions of detention.

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The UK Government follows the situation in Papua with close interest. Officials at our Embassy in Jakarta, including the Ambassador, visit Papua regularly. Officials press the Indonesian authorities to address legitimate human rights concerns, including upholding the right of all citizens to peacefully protest, and ensure the sustainable and equitable development of the province. We have made no specific representations about arrests in December. The UK respects the territorial integrity of Indonesia.

We are following closely the recent detention in Thailand of approximately 100 people, mainly from Pakistan, whom the Thai authorities consider illegal immigrants. This follows arrests of Cambodian and Vietnamese nationals at the end of August. We understand approximately 200 people who claim refugee and asylum status are currently in immigration detention, and that some of these are registered with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We believe that the recent orders are not aimed at any specific group or groups but apply to anyone whom the Thai authorities deem an illegal visa over-stayer, as part of a general tightening of immigration enforcement. In September a senior official from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office raised our concerns about the treatment of those in immigration detention with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our Embassy in Bangkok repeated the UK’s concerns on the matter with the Thai National Security Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister on 18 October. We are also working with the Thai authorities to improve conditions of detention.

We called on Thailand during its 2nd Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in 2016, to ensure no restrictions on freedom of expression especially for the media and human rights defenders, and that no one faces threats and harassment for expressing their views.

We have not had recent reports of arbitrary arrests in Thailand, but we do have concerns about the use of legislation to curtail freedoms of expression, assembly and association since the coup. We continue to raise these and wider human rights concerns with the Thai authorities, both at Ministerial level and through our Embassy in Bangkok. Most recently, our Ambassador to Thailand raised these concerns with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Prajin Juntong.

​The British Embassy is unable to access reliable figures detailing how many Rohingya are currently in detention in Burma. The former Foreign Secretary made clear his concern about the persecution of the Rohingya people in his most recent conversation with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on 11 June.