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Sudan

18. Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the human rights situation in Sudan. [196798]

Mr. Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the (a) Government of Sudan, (b) Special Representative of the UN Secretary and (c) International Committee of the Red Cross about an inter-agency strategy for the protection of the internally displaced population in Darfur which fully respects the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. [196082]

Mr. Mullin: The UK Government regularly raise with the Government of Sudan the need for them to ensure the protection of all civilians—including displaced
 
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persons—in Darfur, and to adhere by the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, including on the need for all returns to be voluntary and appropriate.

During our respective visits to Sudan, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I both met the UN Special Representative Jan Pronk. We discussed the need for a co-ordinated approach by the international community to help bring security to Darfur.

We are therefore working with all agencies with a protection mandate, including UN agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the African Union, to develop and implement a coherent protection strategy which has just been approved by the UN Country Team.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the US Secretary of State about the US Administration's formal declaration of genocide in Darfur; and if the UK Government will make an equivalent declaration. [196199]

Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had regular discussions with the US Secretary of State about the situation in Darfur. During discussions following Colin Powell's declaration to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 9 September, both the Foreign Secretary and Colin Powell agreed that the key priority was to stop the fighting. The UK and US Governments have been working closely to achieve this.

We therefore co-sponsored Security Council resolution 1564, which called for the establishment of the International Commission of Inquiry. This Commission began its work on 25 October. It will be for the Commission to determine the nature of the crimes which have taken place in Darfur and to make recommendations on how they should be dealt with.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of displaced people in Southern Sudan. [196200]

Mr. Mullin: Sudan is host to Africa's longest running civil war, which has been raging in southern Sudan since 1983. While there are no reliable figures, estimates suggest that up to four million people have been displaced as a result.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of fatalities in Southern Sudan since the war began in 1983. [196201]

Mr. Mullin: While there are no reliable figures, estimates suggest that up to two million people have been killed as a result of the civil war which began in 1983.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary about the provision of international police monitors to support the national police force in Darfur. [196204]

Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed the issue of international police monitors with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. However, we strongly welcomed the
 
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inclusion of a civilian police monitoring element in the expanded African Union (AU) mission in Darfur. A UK police planner, on secondment from the Home Office, helped the AU develop its plan in Addis Ababa. We have made clear our willingness to provide personnel and technical expertise to the AU mission, should it be required.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment his Department has made of reports of the World Food Programme on 2 November of the Sudanese army and police surrounding internally displaced people camps near Nyala in Darfur; and if he will make a statement; [196669]

(2) whether his Department has sought an explanation from the Sudanese Government with regard to reports by the World Food Programme of moves by the Sudanese army and police to surround internally displaced people camps near Nyala in Darfur; and if he will make a statement. [196670]

Mr. Mullin: The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Sudan and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) requires prior consultation before any displaced persons are removed or relocated. This was not done. We have made clear to the Government of Sudan that we hold them fully responsible. We expect the Government of Sudan actively to involve the UN, IOM and the African Union in any voluntary and appropriate return or relocation of displaced persons and we have demanded the withdrawal of Government of Sudan forces from around the camps.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what reports he has received of Sudanese army movements in the Darfur region in Western Sudan since May; and if he will make a statement; [196671]

(2) what assessment his Department has made of the (a) movements, (b) activities and (c) impact of the Sudanese army in Darfur, Western Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [196672]

Mr. Mullin: The African Union ceasefire commission produces regular reports on ceasefire violations. All sides have been violating the N'Djamena ceasefire agreement since it was signed in April.

We continue to press the Government of Sudan on the need for it to refrain from all hostile military action in Darfur, under the obligations placed on it by Security Council resolutions 1556 and 1564.

We have also called on the Government of Sudan not to retaliate against increased rebel activity in the region, including attacks on police stations.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what channels of communication (a) his Department and (b) UK representatives in Sudan have established with (i) the Justice and Equality Movement and (ii) the Sudan Liberation Army and Movement; and if he will make a statement. [196673]

 
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Mr. Mullin: We are in regular contact with the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement, both through our embassy in Khartoum and the joint Department for International Development/Foreign and Commonwealth Office Sudan Unit in London. I met the leadership of the SLM in London on 13 October.

A UK observer has been present at the Darfur peace talks in Abuja, where he has been active in pressing the rebel groups and the Government of Sudan to reach a political solution.

Middle East

19. Jim Knight : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made on the Middle East Peace Process. [196799]

Mr. Rammell: On 26 October the Knesset voted in favour of Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement plan. We welcome the vote and hope the way is now clear for the withdrawals to be implemented. Any withdrawals would be a significant step towards the goal of a two-state solution. We look forward to working with international partners to make the best of this opportunity and to give new impetus to the Middle East Peace Process.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) his European Union counterparts and (b) the European Commission on securing compensation from Israel for the cost of damage to EU-funded projects in the Palestinian territories resulting from Israeli military action. [196574]

Mr. Rammell: The damage inflicted by Israeli military action on development projects, and the homes and livelihoods of ordinary Palestinian people, has been substantial. We and our European partners have repeatedly made representations to the Israeli Government about the scale of the damage. The European Commission has also sought compensation on several occasions. So far they have only been successful once, in relation to a food warehouse in Gaza. UK officials in Brussels continue to discuss with European Union partners how to take this forward.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) house demolitions and (b) the barrier being built by Israel on the town of Wadi Fukin; and what representations he is making on the issue. [196077]

Mr. Rammell: The Palestinian village of Wadi Fukin lies between the Green Line and the proposed route of the Israeli barrier, and near to several Israeli settlements. We understand that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have issued orders to appropriate Wadi Fukin agricultural lands for 'security purposes', although there have not as yet been any demolitions. IDF checkpoints have resulted in significant restrictions on freedom of movement for the town's population.

We fully recognise Israel's right to defend itself against terrorist attack. But it must act within the parameters of international law. The demolition of homes amounts to collective punishment, harms
 
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innocent civilians and exacerbates tension. We have repeatedly made clear our objections to the route of the barrier through, and demolitions within, the Occupied Territories. We have not made specific representations about the town of Wadi Fukin.

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