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20 Jun 2003 : Column 468W—continued
Burma
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the EU plans to take regarding the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma; and if the matter will be referred to the UN Security Council. [119476]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We are in regular contact with EU partners and are in discussion about what further steps we will take if the regime does not provide immediate satisfactory responses.
The EU has already decided that the strengthened measures of the Common Position will now be implemented. The Common Position contains: an arms embargo; a ban on defence links; a ban on high-level bilateral government visits; a ban on non-humanitarian aid; a ban on the supply of equipment that might be used for internal repression or terrorism; an asset freeze and visa ban on regime members, the military and security forces and others who actively frustrate the process of national reconciliation.
Whether the matter is to be referred to the UNSC is currently under discussion.
China
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with China. [120504]
Mr. Rammell: We currently enjoy very good relations with China. These have been built on regular high level visits in both directions, as well as lower level exchanges on many different issues. We look forward to building relations with the new leadership.
As part of our efforts to step up our dialogue with China on major international issues the Chinese Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing, will visit the UK next week for talks with my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and other Government Ministers.
We have welcomed China's support in the fight against terrorism. The strength of our relationship allows us to raise directly with the Chinese Government our concerns about human rights in China which we do on a regular basis.
Former Yugoslavia
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what
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assessment he has made of the stability and security situation in the Presevo Valley in the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement; [120117]
- (2) what (a) peacekeeping forces and (b) recognised NGOs are present in Presevo in the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement; [120118]
(3) what proportion of people of the Moslem faith who fled the Presevo Valley he estimates have returned to their homes; [120119]
(4) when a representative of the UK embassy in Belgrade last visited the Presevo Valley; [120120]
(5) what reports he has received from (a) the UK Mission in Belgrade and (b) peacekeeping forces and NGOs, as to whether residential properties in Lagja Skemdevbeg district of Presevo in the former Yugoslavia are (i) destroyed and (ii) occupied by others than the original, legitimate tenants and owners; and if he will make a statement. [120121]
Mr. MacShane [holding answer 19 June 2003]: In recent years, the Presevo Valley in the south of Serbia and Montenegro (formerly Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) has experienced clashes between the Serbian security forces and armed extremist elements from the local ethnic Albanian community. The security situation has now improved following a peace settlement in May 2001, and a political process which has incorporated the Albanian minority more fully into local government.
Tensions re-emerged in February this year when there were renewed attacks on Serbian security forces from ethnic Albanian extremists, largely based in eastern Kosovo. With the support of the international community, the Serbian authorities brought the situation under control. There remains an increased security forces presence in the region but the situation is currently calm and stable, with only occasional isolated incidents.
Progress on refugee returns to southern Serbia has been good. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) estimates that 90 per cent. of ethnic Albanian internally displaced persons (IDPs) or refugees from Presevo have returned, 66 per cent. from Bujanovic district, and 70 per cent. from Medvedja district. The principal obstacle to further returns is the poor economic situation in the region. We have received no reports of destruction or illegal occupation of properties in any area of the PresevoValley.
The Serb authorities, through the Serbian Government's Co-ordinating Body for Southern Serbia (SGCB), and the International Community continue in their efforts to consolidate the rule of law and multiethnic democracy in the region. There are no international peacekeeping forces in southern Serbia itself. KFOR maintains a presence in Kosovo and in Macedonia, which borders with the Presevo Valley.
United Nations agencies, the OSCE and the European Union Monitoring Mission operate in southern Serbia, as well as a large number of NGOs. These include:American Refugee Committee (ARC); Development Alternatives Inc (DAI); International Rescue Committee (IRC); Medecins du Monde (MDM); Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF); Belgian Red
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Cross; International Organisation for Migration (IOM); United Methodist Committee of Relief (UMCOR); OXFAM; Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI); CARE; CHF International; Action contre le Faim (ACF).
The UK continues to take a close interest in the democratic development and the security situation in southern Serbia. We have contributed financial assistance to projects aimed at stabilising the region, including the OSCE's Multi-Ethnic Policing programme. The last visit by officials from the British Embassy in Belgrade took place on 19–20 March 2003. We look forward to seeing progress in tackling the economic problems of the region, and in integrating ethnic Albanians more closely into the local state structures, both of which will help to stabilise the region further.
Guantanamo Bay
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received from British officials who have visited Guantanamo Bay about the health and welfare of the UK citizens detained there by the US. [119904]
Mr. Mullin: British officials visited the British detainees in Guantanamo Bay for a fifth time in April. As part of their visit they checked on the welfare of the detainees, who appeared generally to be in sound physical health. The physical conditions of their detention appear to be broadly satisfactory. However, we have raised any welfare concerns we may have with the US authorities.
Indonesia
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make representations to the Indonesian Government about the (a) destruction of churches and (b) killing of civilians in the West Papua regency of Wamena; and if he will make a statement; [119475]
- (2) what reports he has received of the activities of the Laskar Jihad in West Papua; and if he will make a statement on the safety of Christians in that region. [119478]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The British Embassy in Jakarta is monitoring the situation in Wamena closely and has met NGOs and community leaders from the area. We are aware of reports of civilians being abused and buildings being burned, which the Embassy will raise with the Indonesian Government.
Laskar Jihad announced that they were disbanding in October 2002. There is conflicting information about whether the group is now present in Papua, and if so in what numbers. The local authorities in Papua are investigating these reports. At the moment we are not aware of any particular threat to Christians in Papua.
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights in the Indonesian province of Aceh. [119991]
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Mr. Mike O'Brien: We are concerned about recent reports of human rights abuses in Aceh. During my visit to Indonesia on 3–4 June I stressed to the Indonesian Government the importance of their Armed Forces using proportionate force, respecting human rights and acting in accordance with international law. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a joint press statement with the Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, on 20 May calling on the Indonesian Armed Forces to ensure full respect for human rights and to show maximum restraint while they carry out operations in Aceh. We regularly raise with the Indonesian authorities the importance of upholding and promoting human rights and religious freedom throughout thecountry.
The Indonesian Government have agreed to allow members of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas-HAM) to visit Aceh to investigate any alleged human rights abuses. There have also been two military tribunals at which military personnel have been sentenced to imprisonment for abusing civilians. We will continue to monitor the situation.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Indonesian Government's special autonomy law for West Papua of January 2002, with special reference to President Megawati's decree of March 2003 splitting the province. [120129]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK, together with EU partners, supports Special Autonomy for Papua. We have encouraged the Indonesian Government fully to implement Special Autonomy as soon as possible.
Following a successful visit to Papua by a Scottish Devolution team in October 2001, HMG provided funding for a devolution expert to go to Jayapura and advise the Papuan authorities, academics and civil society on drafting the legislation required for Special Autonomy. He has been in Papua since September 2002 and will leave in September 2003.
President Megawati issued Presidential Instruction 01/2003 in January 2003, which says that Papua should be split into three provinces. It is not clear how this Instruction relates to the Special Autonomy package of 1 January 2002, but the Indonesian Government said in February 2003 that the Instruction and Special Autonomy do not contradict each other and that both can be implemented. We are seeking further clarification on this from the Indonesian Government.
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