---

20 Apr 2004 : Column 449W—continued

Indonesia

Mr. Damian Green : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government about religious freedom; and if he will make a statement. [166462]

Mr. Mike O'Brien : I met with the Indonesian Ambassador on 6 October and 10 November 2003 and 4 March 2004 and on each occasion we discussed a wide
 
20 Apr 2004 : Column 450W
 
range of issues, including religion. We support the Indonesian Government's efforts to bring peace to the provinces of Central Sulawesi and Maluku.

The British Government is committed to working with Indonesia to encourage religious tolerance. Together with the Department for International Development, we have committed over £4 million to help establish the United Nations Development Programme Conflict Prevention and Recovery Unit in Jakarta. The Unit will build up capacity in conflict reduction and recovery in the provinces affected by religious conflict. This includes funding projects like the Maluku Reconciliation Conference, which was held in London and Brussels in January 2004 and which brought together Muslim and Christian Leaders from Maluku to discuss how to establish peace in the province.

Burma

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government has in the near future to call for a European Union demarche to the Burmese regime regarding the Burmese military's atrocities against the Karen, Karenni and Shan peoples. [166644]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We regularly discuss human rights issues on Burma with our EU partners. The UK has been instrumental in pressing for and supporting numerous demarches to the Burmese regime, including on human rights abuses against the ethnic groups.

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Government classifies systematic atrocities against the Karen, Karenni and Shan peoples by the Burmese military as (a) war crimes and (b) crimes against humanity under international law. [166645]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The British Government is one of the strongest critics of the Burmese regime's abuses of human rights. We are aware of a consistent pattern of serious violations over many years, particularly against the ethnic groups. These have been highlighted in successive UK co-sponsored resolutions on Burma in both the United Nations General Assembly and the United National Commission on Human Rights. But we do not consider that the atrocities constitute "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity", which have specific definitions under international law. Nor does the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma, Sergio Pinheiro, who has regular access to Burma use these terms to describe the situation there.

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will take steps to strengthen the European Union common position on Burma, in response to the continuing systematic atrocities against the Karen, Karenni and Shan peoples by the Burmese military. [166646]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Given the State Peace and Development Council's (SPDC) announcement that the National Convention, the first step of the SPDC's 7-point roadmap to national reconciliation, will reconvene on 17 May to draft a new constitution for Burma we believe that it would send a wrong signal to
 
20 Apr 2004 : Column 451W
 
strengthen sanctions under the EU's Common Position on Burma at a time when the regime may be moving forward with the political process. We are therefore prepared to support a rollover of existing measures in the EU Common Position on Burma which already contains tough measures against the regime. However, we remain ready to respond proportionately to developments on the ground in Burma.

We have been pressing strongly for the release of Aung San Sui Kui and Oo Tin Oo. I raised this on 18 April with the Chinese, Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese neighbours of Burma at the ASEM Foreign Ministers meeting.

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government has made to the Burmese regime regarding recent Burmese military offensives in Northern Karen State and Karenni State. [166657]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I regularly raise our concerns on Burma with the Burmese authorities, most recently when I met the Burmese Ambassador at the end of February.

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will raise the issue of the Burmese military's systematic atrocities against the Karen, Karenni and Shan peoples at the UN Security Council. [166658]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We have raised our concerns over human rights violations in Burma with our Security Council Partners. However, currently there is no consensus to bring Burma before the Security Council.

Atrocities against ethnic groups in Burma have been highlighted in successive EU co-sponsored UN Resolutions on Burma.

East Timor

Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made in identifying those responsible for the deaths of Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters in East Timor. [166081]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is continuing its enquiries into what information is needed to enable indictments to be issued. I raised this issue with the Indonesian Ambassador when I met him in March. I also raised the issue with the Indonesian Foreign Minister at the ASEM summit on 18 April.

Computer Services

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to update computer (a) hardware and (b) software standard packages used in his Department. [166362]

Mr. Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has an extensive and well-developed strategy for updating its information and communications technology. This is set out in our "e-diplomacy" strategy as announced to the House on 24 March (Official Report, Columns 52–53 WS).
 
20 Apr 2004 : Column 452W
 

Sudan

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the (a) Arab League, (b) Government of Chad an (c) Sudanese Government on the situation in Darfur; and if he will make a statement. [166535]

Mr. Mullin: We welcome the humanitarian ceasefire agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and the Sudan Justice and Equality Movement which was signed in N'djamena, Chad, on 8 April 2004. This is an important step forward in resolving the crisis in Darfur and we are very grateful to the Government of Chad for its role in mediating the ceasefire talks.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development spoke to the Sudanese Foreign Minister about Darfur on 24 March, and since then our Ambassador in Khartoum has had a number of discussions with him. We have not been in contact with the Arab League on this issue, though we have discussed the matter with the Government of Chad.

Nepal

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions there are on the leaders of the Maoist terrorist movement of Nepal visiting the United Kingdom. [166198]

Mr. O'Brien: Any entry clearance application made by a Nepalese national would be considered in accordance with the UK Immigration Rules. Any security or other concerns regarding particular individuals would be considered at the time of the application. I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

TRANSPORT

Prestwick Air Traffic Control Centre

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of progress by National Air Traffic Services in securing investment to expand air traffic control capacity, with particular reference to restarting work on the new control centre in Prestwick. [166178]

Mr. Darling: The New Prestwick Air Traffic Control Centre is an integral part of NATS operations. It will handle operations over the eastern half of the North Atlantic, the northern half of the UK and much of the North Sea. Work on the new Centre at Prestwick is due to start later this year.

---