| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
3 Jun 2003 : Column 9W—continued
Indonesia
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Indonesian Government regarding human trafficking for the purposes of sexual and labour exploitation. [114579]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We have not felt it necessary to make representations to the Indonesian Government on this issue, as they are already taking steps to combat human trafficking.
On 30 December 2002 President Megawati signed a Presidential Decree on a National Plan of Action for the Elimination of Trafficking in Women and Children. In addition, on 28–30 April, the Indonesian Government co-hosted The Second Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crimes. Significant progress has been made in regional co-operation to combat people smuggling and other forms of illegal migration since the first regional Ministerial Conference in Bali in February 2002, especially in increasing public awareness of people smuggling and trafficking, discouraging those considering illegal movement, asylum management, and information sharing on the dignified and humane return of unlawful migrants.
Indonesia
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Aceh; and what discussions he has had with the UN and national governments on bringing a peaceful solution to conflict there. [115277]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We deeply regret the breakdown of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) following the failure by the Indonesian Government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to reach an agreement at a joint meeting in Tokyo on 17 to 18 May 2003. We are
3 Jun 2003 : Column 10W
disappointed that the Indonesian Government have declared martial law in Aceh, which has resulted in military action against the GAM.
In a joint statement with the Australian Foreign Minister on 20 May 2003, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary called on the Indonesian armed forces to ensure full respect for human rights, and to show maximum restraint while they carry out their operations in Aceh.
The British Government together with EU partners, the US, Japan and the World bank have all urged both the Indonesian Government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to resume peaceful negotiations. We believe that dialogue is the best way to achieve a long-term peaceful political solution to the problems in Aceh. We and the international community as a whole support Indonesia's territorial integrity.
Russia
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports the Government has received on the demolition of shelters for internally displaced persons in Ingushetia; and what representations he has made to President Putin on this matter. [114563]
Mr. MacShane: We have received reports from the French NGO, Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF), that the Ingush government ordered them to dismantle some 180 single-room shelters for Internally Displaced Persons, and that construction of a further 3000 shelters has been put on hold. We have not yet raised this issue with the Russian government, pending the outcome of an Ingush government commission appointed to review the decision.
Israel
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the Israeli Government regarding (a) the death of James Miller and (b) the shooting of Tom Hurndall in Gaza; and if he will encourage the Israeli authorities to carry out a full criminal investigation. [113732]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Since the shooting of Tom Hurndall and death of James Miller we have continually pressed the Israeli Government for full and transparent inquiries into the shootings. I repeated these demands when I met the Israeli Ambassador to London, Zvi Shtuaber on 8 May. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also raised our concerns on 15 May when he met Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom.
Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv has already pressed the Israelis for a Military Investigation into both shootings.
Our staff in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem remain in contact with both families, and are working on their behalf. We will continue to do all that we can to resolve both these cases.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the matters discussed during his talks with the Israeli Foreign Minister on 16 May; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of those talks. [114846]
3 Jun 2003 : Column 11W
Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed bilateral relations, Middle East Peace Process and other regional issues of common concern with Mr Shalom. This was the first opportunity we have had to raise British interests and concerns with the new Israeli Foreign Minister in person.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the restrictions placed by the Israeli Government on the freedom of foreign nationals to enter the Gaza Strip, and what response he has received to those representations; [114848]
- (2) what assessment he has made of reports that the Israeli Government has imposed a requirement on foreign nationals wishing to enter the Gaza Strip should sign a waiver absolving the Israeli military of responsibility if the foreign national command is killed or injured by Israeli military action; and what representations he has made to the Government of Israel on the issue. [114849]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We are concerned by Israel's decision to oblige foreign nationals to sign a waiver before allowing them to enter the Gaza Strip; and by the further decision to forbid most foreign nationals from entering the Gaza Strip at all. Our embassy in Tel Aviv has taken these issues up with the Israeli authorities as a matter of urgency. We look to the Government of Israel to ease these restrictions without delay.
Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make copies of the Quartet's middle east road map available on his Department's website; and if he will place a formal copy of the road map in the Library. [114927]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Formal copies of the roadmap are publicly available on the department's website www.fco.gov.uk/mepp and have been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having with (a) the Israeli Government, (b) the Palestinian authorities, (c) the United Nations and (d) his American counterparts regarding progress on the implementation of Phase 1 of the roadmap for peace. [115140]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Ministers and Officials are in regular contact with the Israeli Government, the Palestinian Authority, the UN and the US. Most recently my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary met Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom during his visit to London on 15 May 2003; and the Prime Minister spoke to President Bush on 16 May and Abu Mazen on 18 May 2003.
Judicial Executions
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has collated on the number of executions per 100,000 population in the five countries with the highest rates of judicial executions in each of the last three years. [114878]
3 Jun 2003 : Column 12W
Mr. Rammell: Verifiable information on the numbers of executions which take place around the world is not available as not all countries publish such figures. We use statistics collected by Amnesty International which we regard as one definitive source of information on death penalty cases. Amnesty International do not publish a league table of figures covering every country in the world though their research and ours suggests that capital punishment continues to be implemented in about 30 countries. We also believe that the true number of executions world-wide is significantly higher than the number of recorded cases.
According to available statistics in 2000, 88 per cent. of all known executions took place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA. In 2001 and 2002, 90 per cent. and 84 per cent. respectively of all known executions took place in the same four countries. We believe that Singapore has the highest per capita number of recorded executions in the world, with 13 executions per million. China has the highest overall recorded number of executions, with at least 1,060 executions in 2002.
Pakistan
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation with respect to visa applications in Karachi. [114580]
Mr. Rammell: The Visa Sections in Karachi and Lahore have been closed since May 2002 for security reasons. Our High Commission in Islamabad is offering a limited visa service for the whole of Pakistan. Applications must be made through a courier service which has offices throughout Pakistan, including in Karachi. Applications which cannot be decided on papers alone and require an interview with the applicant cannot currently be resolved and are returned to the applicant.
The situation is kept under constant review and we aim to resume a normal service throughout Pakistan as soon as possible.
The UK visas website (www.ukvisas.gov.uk) contains regularly updated information on Visa Sections worldwide which are offering a restricted service or are temporarily closed.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |