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8 Dec 2005 : Column 1554W—continued
Burma
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Myanmar Government over the extended detention under house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. [34719]
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Ian Pearson: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest with almost no contact with anyone outside her compound. We have not yet been able to verify the reports that her period of detention has been formally extended. The Burmese authorities have given no official notification of the extended detention.
We have, however, joined with others in the international community in calling repeatedly for her immediate release and that of all political prisoners in Burma, most recently in a statement issued on behalf of the European Union on 28 November.
We will continue to highlight the case of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with the Burmese authorities at every available opportunity. Our ambassador in Rangoon raised her continuing detention and that of other prisoners of conscience when she met the Burmese Home Minister on 26 October. In the meantime our embassy in Rangoon is monitoring the situation closely.
Cameroon
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct the British ambassador to Cameroon to make urgent representations to President Biya concerning the arrest and detention of Mr. Nfor Ngala Nfor. [32154]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 7 December 2005]: My noble Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, raised the case of Mr. Nfor Ngala Nfor with the Cameroon Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on 24 November.
The British high commissioner to Cameroon discussed the Southern Cameroons National Council with the Cameroon Deputy Minister of Justice on 29 November.
Colombia
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Colombia to ensure that (a) criminal investigations into third parties who backed and co-ordinated paramilitaries are advanced and (b) that those responsible for backing paramilitarism are brought to justice under the new Justice and Peace Law. [35254]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: We have regularly urged the Colombian Government to do more to tackle the issue of collusion between state officials and the paramilitary groups. President Uribe has publicly stated on a number of occasions that he will not tolerate such collusion and will act decisively against those who are proved to have such links. The Colombian Government have a clear duty to undertake thorough judicial investigations into all attacks and abuses, including those where there are credible allegations of collusion. We have made this point to the Colombians on many occasions and will continue to do so. We have also made it clear that a culture of impunity must not be allowed to flourish.
We have been encouraged by recent, stronger action by the Colombians to address these issues. This has resulted in dismissals from the security forces, and in
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some cases, arrests and imprisonment of both high-ranking army officers and police. Such action sends a strong message that collusion with illegal groups and involvement in drug trafficking will not be tolerated. It also helps increase public confidence in the security forces. We commend the Colombian Government for this and urge them to continue, and strengthen, their efforts to crack down on collusion and to deny impunity to wrong-doers.
The EU response to the new Justice and Peace Law can be found at http://ue.eu.int/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/gena/86442.pdf
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates President Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has visited the UK in the last four years. [34516]
Ian Pearson: President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has made an official visit to the United Kingdom once over the last four years, from 4–6 February 2004. Prior to that, he also made an official visit to the UK in March 2001.
Departmental Victim Support
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether policy changes in relation to victim and family support from his Department are being considered following the Sharm el-Sheikh bombing. [34493]
Dr. Howells: Those injured abroad, or the relatives or dependants of those killed abroad, are not currently eligible for compensation under the UK compensation schemes. However, the Government are currently discussing this, and the wider question of support in the UK for the victims of terrorist incidents overseas.
Diplomatic Residency (Cape Town)
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) for what reasons the head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office property management team and a consultant interior designer recently visited the high commissioner's residency in Cape Town; and at whose request the visit was made; [35717]
(2) when the high commissioner's residence in Cape Town was last refurbished and redecorated; [35718]
(3) who is now resident in the high commissioner's residence in Cape Town. [35719]
Ian Pearson: The Head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Property Management team has not visited Cape Town.
The FCO has a rolling visit programme to review the interiors and furnishings of certain residences. The visit of an interior designer to Cape Town was part of this programme. A senior member of Estates Directorate visiting South Africa on other business took the opportunity to accompany them.
The Cape Town residence last had a major refurbishment in financial year 2000–01.
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The high commissioner, the right hon. Paul Boateng and his wife, reside both in his residence in Pretoria and in his residence in Cape Town.
European Court of Human Rights
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those cases against the United Kingdom that have been lodged and are awaiting consideration by the European Court of Human Rights; which articles of the Convention are cited in each application as having been breached; which cases have been ruled admissible; and if he will make a statement on each case. [33726]
Ian Pearson: A list of all the cases lodged against the United Kingdom at the European Court of Human Rights is not available as in the majority of cases the Court decides without referring them to Governments. The cases against the United Kingdom that have been ruled admissible, and the articles in respect of which they are admissible, are as follows:
The other cases which have been communicated to the Government and on which an admissibility decision is awaited, and the articles in respect of which they have been communicated, are as follows:
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To prepare a statement on each of these cases would result in disproportionate cost.
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