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Human Rights
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's most recent assessment is of the human rights situation in (a) Uganda, (b) Uzbekistan, (c) China, (d) Rwanda and (e) the Maldives; what conclusions have been drawn; and if he will make a statement. [49490]
Ian Pearson: The Government are committed to promoting human rights overseas, as set out in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's annual reports on human rights. Our most recent assessments of the situations in the countries listed in the question are as follows:
There remains a great deal to do to secure full respect for human rights in Uganda. We are particularly concerned by the situation in northern Uganda. As a result of the long-running conflict, 1.7 million people are living in appalling conditions in internally displaced peoples' camps and over 20,000 children have been abducted by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army since 1988.
We continue to emphasise the importance of upholding human rights in our discussions with the Ugandan government. There have been some positive developments. In June 2005, the constitutional court ruled that mandatory death sentences were unconstitutional. Uganda benefits from an independent judiciary and a relatively free press but concerns do remain regarding restrictions on political freedom and reports of arbitrary detention and torture.
We remain gravely concerned by the situation in Uzbekistan. There have been some welcome steps, albeit limited, by the government of Uzbekistan to implement their national action plan on torture based on international recommendations; and President Karimov has announced plans to abolish the death penalty by 1 January 2008. However, overall there has been a clear deterioration in the human rights situation in Uzbekistan. The arbitrary arrest, detention and trials of eye-witnesses to the events in Andizhan of 12–13 May 2005 have been accompanied by increasing restrictions on freedom of expression, thought, conscience and religion, by a continuing refusal to register political parties, and by ongoing harassment, detention and trial of human rights defenders, journalists and others.
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The People's Republic of China
We have serious concerns about a wide range of human rights issues in China. Although China has done much in recent years to reduce poverty and promote economic development, we believe China also needs to make substantive progress on human rights and implement serious political reforms to match its economic development. We continue to engage critically with China through the UK China Human Rights Dialogue, Ministerial contacts and EU mechanisms.
The human rights situation in Rwanda still gives grounds for concern, but Rwanda is making progress. We regularly meet local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the Rwandan National Human Rights Commission to discuss the human rights situation. We are monitoring Rwanda's implementation of its 5-year strategy on human rights, particularly freedom of expression and judicial independence. We have raised with the government issues such as alleged human rights abuses committed by the security services, and urged that perpetrators to be brought swiftly to trial. We have also raised our concerns on opening political space in Rwanda. There are some encouraging signs that are functioning, if not truly independent, civil society is emerging.
We continue to have concerns about the human rights situation in the Maldives, particularly freedom of expression and association and the right to fair trials conducted with due legal process. We share concerns that recent trials of political activists appear to have political motivations. We regularly make clear our concerns to the government of the Maldives both bilaterally, and with EU partners. We promote improvements in human rights where we can and have supported the work of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, NGOs concerned with fair trials and the training of journalists.
Internet Censorship Abroad
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on internet censorship abroad; and what discussions he has had with his counterparts at the United Nations on the subject. [55508]
Ian Pearson: We have received a number of representations from civil society organisations on restrictions on freedom of expression on the Internet in a number of countries, for example in the lead-up to the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunisia in November 2005. The Government has also recently expressed disappointment at the hard line the Chinese Government takes on limiting freedom of expression and information. We believe both are essential to the development of a modern, stable and sustainable society.
The WSIS general preamble (The Tunis Commitment"), to which all UN member States signed up, is a reaffirmation of human rights and freedom of expression. This explicitly recognises that freedom of expression and the free flow of information, ideas, and knowledge, are essential for the
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Information Society". Member States also agreed the more detailed Tunis Agenda", which reaffirms the freedom to seek, receive, impart and use information and the need to respect freedom of expression when taking measures to ensure Internet security.
Mrs ZN (Immigration)
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether HM High Commission Islamabad has sent to the Home Office the appeal papers for the immigration case of Mrs ZN of Aylesbury (reference ISB/879875); and if he will make a statement. [48616]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 6 February 2006]: I regret that I cannot provide this information, as it is not our practice to disclose details of individual entry clearance cases in a public forum. My noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, will write to the hon. Member.
Pakistan
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Pakistan regarding the attacks on Christians and Christian institutions in response to the Danish cartoons in Peshawar, Kasur (Lahore) and a number of other communities; and if he will raise the matter with Shaukat Aziz when he visits the UK. [55395]
Dr. Howells: We are aware of the attacks against Christians in Sialkot and Sukkur in February, but not of those in Peshawar, Kasur (Lahore) or elsewhere. We are shocked that any such incidents took place, so soon after the Sangla Hills violence in November 2005. My hon. Friend is well aware that these events are very often triggered to settle personal disputes. However it is also possible that these attacks were influenced by heightened tensions relating to the publication of cartoons offensive to Muslims in Danish and other newspapers. We were disturbed by the serious incidents relating to this which occurred in Peshawar, Lahore, Islamabad and other cities across Pakistan. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary intends to take the opportunity to raise human rights in Pakistan during his meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on 7 March.
Russia
Mr. Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of the Russian Federation about (a) constraints on press freedom, (b) restrictions on the activities of non-governmental organisations and (c) disappearances and other human rights abuses in Chechnya and the North Caucasus. [56070]
Mr. Douglas Alexander:
All of these issues were discussed at length during the last round of the UK/Russia human rights consultations held on 8 September 2005 under UK chairmanship. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, and President Putin noted the results of those consultations during the EU Russia summit on 4 October 2005. They had a frank discussion
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with President Putin on human rights and democracy issues, including the situation in Chechnya. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns on the situation faced by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) during discussions with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in January 2006. And during my visit to Russia, as Minister for Europe, between 27 February and 1 March 2006, I made our concerns on NGOs and on press freedoms a matter of the public record.
Rwanda
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on prosecution of suspected Rwandan genocidaires. [55448]
Ian Pearson: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have held regular meetings with Home Office counterparts and the Metropolitan Police to discuss issues relating to the prosecution of alleged Rwandan war criminals. The most recent meeting took place on 20 February 2006.
Decisions on whether an individual has a case to answer to under UK criminal law are a matter for the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Norway on its decision to prosecute a suspected Rwandan genocidaire; and what assessment he has made of the merits of pursuing similar prosecutions in the UK. [55586]
Ian Pearson: None. This is a matter for the Government of Norway and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
The Government continues to support international efforts to bring to justice perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. However, decisions on whether an individual has a case to answer under UK criminal law are a matter for the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the merits of the prosecution of Rwandan genocidaires outside Rwanda. [55590]
Ian Pearson: The Government are a strong supporter of the work of the International Criminal Tribunal (ICTR) for Rwanda, which is playing an important role in bringing to justice individuals responsible for the most serious crimes perpetrated in Rwanda in 1994. Any prosecution beyond the scope of the ICTR would be a question for the relevant national prosecuting authority.
We continue to support international efforts to bring to justice perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many named Rwandan genocide suspects reside in the UK. [56277]
Ian Pearson:
It would be inappropriate to discuss the numbers, or details, of named alleged Rwandan genocide suspects resident in the UK. Doing so could jeopardise any possible criminal or immigration action that the UK authorities decided to pursue.
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The UK has procedures in place to ensure that any individual indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and resident in the UK would be handed over to face international justice.
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there are plans to (a) extradite and (b) bring proceedings in the UK against those alleged to be involved with the Rwandan genocide. [56278]
Ian Pearson: It is established Government policy to neither confirm nor deny the existence of an extradition request.
Decisions on whether or not an individual has a case to answer to under UK criminal law are a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
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