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East Timor
14. Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held recently with the Government of Indonesia on the future of East Timor; and if he will make a statement. [30857]
Mr. Hanley: Ministers most recently discussed the future of East Timor with the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr. Alatas, during his visit to the United Kingdom in January.
Mr. Gerrard: I am sure that the Minister is well aware of the views of many hon. Members that, instead of selling arms to Indonesia, the Government should tell the Indonesians to end their illegal occupation of East Timor, and condemn the genocide that has been committed there. Will he specifically press the Government of Indonesia to implement fully the recommendations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights following his visit to East Timor? Will he also press the Indonesian Government to allow a UN presence in East Timor--not just in Jakarta--and access to East Timor by human rights organisations?
Mr. Hanley: The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the United Kingdom does not recognise Indonesian sovereignty over East Timor. We continue to believe that the dialogue between Portugal and Indonesia, under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, offers the best chance of finding a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable settlement to the question of East Timor. The next round of talks will be held this month.
I was extremely pleased to learn of the meeting between President Suharto of Indonesia and President Guterres of Portugal at the recent ASEAN--Association of South-East Asian Nations--summit in Bangkok. I hope that the Foreign Ministers of Portugal and Indonesia can take forward the issues discussed then, because that is the only way in which we can improve the situation.
We are concerned about the reports of continuing human rights abuses in Indonesia and East Timor, and we let the Indonesian Government know of our concerns. I have mentioned the meeting that I had with Foreign Minister Alatas during his visit to the United Kingdom in January. We are aware of continued violence in East Timor, and we are monitoring the situation very closely.
15. Mr. Bill Michie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to enhance the work of the British Council. [30858]
Mr. Rifkind:
The British Council's activities are at record levels. The council now has 228 offices in 109 countries, compared with 108 offices in 79 countries in 1980. The revision to the grant in aid that I announced on 21 May will enable the British Council to avoid closures of its overseas offices and help to sustain its programmes overseas.
Mr. Michie:
The Secretary of State has been forced to back down from his barmy plans to cut the budget of the
Mr. Rifkind:
I thank the hon. Member for his friendly advice. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council did not, at first, appreciate the implications of the precise figures that were given to them. Further work was done by the British Council, and it alerted us to the implications for its overseas activities. I made it clear from the beginning that I was not prepared to see the closure of overseas offices of the British Council because we greatly value its work. It has greatly expanded under the Government and we have no desire for there to be a contraction in its overseas activities. On that basis, we reviewed its funding.
Mr. Forman:
I warmly welcome the positive approach that my right hon. and learned Friend has taken towards the British Council and the way in which it has expanded overseas, but does he recognise that, from time to time, we should examine the internal workings of the British Council, particularly the structure of its regional offices? Will he assure hon. Members that that matter is being approached in as cost-effective a way as possible? There was a time when the British Council was over-manned and over-present in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Rifkind:
As part of the British Council's examination of its domestic operations, it has concluded that it can carry out its tasks with fewer staff than it has traditionally employed. We expect there to be a significant contraction in the number of its domestic staff and its expenditure.
16. Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken by Her Majesty's ambassador to Bahrain concerning human rights. [30859]
Mr. Hanley:
Our ambassador in Bahrain, Ian Lewty, and his staff have regular discussions with the Bahraini Government. I will be visiting Bahrain next week to discuss a wide range of issues, including human rights.
Mr. Corbyn:
I am pleased to hear that the Minister will be visiting Bahrain next week. Will he carry with him a copy of an early-day motion, signed by a substantial number of hon. Members, that refers to human rights abuses in Bahrain, to the Bahraini Government's abuse of trade union positions and to the lack of respect for human rights by that country? We get the impression that if Britain sells arms to, and does a lot of trade with, a country, the Government are unconcerned about systematic abuses of human rights there.
Mr. Hanley:
Her Majesty's Government deplore all abuses of human rights, wherever they take place. We treat all allegations of human rights abuses seriously. We frequently raise human rights issues with other Governments. Whether we should express concern and
I hope to discuss topical issues with the Bahraini Government next week, including the accusations that are included in documents such as the early-day motion. I shall take it with me to Bahrain. As I said, our ambassador and I raise human rights issues with the Bahraini authorities because we have to respond to the many questions that come from Lord Avebury and hon. Members on specific issues. I have always found the Bahraini authorities most co-operative. I hope that that will be the case next week.
17. Mr. Miller:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Burma regarding human rights in Burma. [30860]
Mr. Hanley:
The United Kingdom has had no ministerial contact with the ruling military regime in Burma, the State Law and Order Restoration Council--SLORC--but we regularly raise our concerns about human rights in Burma at official level.
Mr. Miller:
I am sure that the Minister will agree that it is inadequate simply to criticise SLORC from the sidelines. We all deplore that regime. When considering the plight of people in UNHCR camps, will he have regard to the examples set by Canada, the United States and Australia--which have established small resettlement programmes for people in those camps--particularly when those people have legitimate links with families in Britain who could meet their needs and support them?
Mr. Hanley:
I agree with the spirit behind the hon. Gentleman's question, but I disagree with his suggestion that we are somehow sniping from the sidelines--we are not. On 7 June, our ambassador, Robert Gordon, was sent to the SLORC with a demarche urging it, first, to free those who were detained immediately; secondly, to permit Burma's pro-democracy groups and others freedom of speech, movement and association in fulfilment of Burma's obligations under the universal declaration of human rights; and, thirdly, to enter into meaningful dialogue with Burma's democratic opposition without delay. That is hardly speaking from the sidelines. We are carrying out our policy in support of democratic reform and human rights in Burma, and we have made it clear to SLORC that the resumption of normal relations is conditional on progress in those key areas. That is the purpose of our critical dialogue.
As to the way in which we can help those who have been harmed by the regime in Burma, we will continue to work and to co-operate at every level in order to find the best and most effective way of helping them.
Mr. Fatchett:
If the Minister is so concerned about human rights in Burma, and if the Government's actions are consistent with his words, will he give a commitment to the House that the trade delegation to Burma sponsored by the Government and scheduled for 24 June will be cancelled and that the Government will give no further legitimacy to that foul regime in Burma through their
Mr. Hanley:
I point out to the hon. Gentleman that, on 19 July last year, there was an Adjournment debate on the subject, when I set out the Government's policy. I did so again on 7 February and I also referred to our policy in Parliament on 6 March. It is true that we sponsored a mission to Burma in January and February this year, but it is surprising that Mr. Pilger's recent television programme omitted to mention the fact that we have pulled the plug on our support for the trade mission to which the hon. Gentleman referred--for the reasons that he has given. It is strange that programmes criticising the Government fail to mention the facts that they find inconvenient--one must never let the truth interfere with a good story.
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