Cameroon Republic: Human Rights (Hansard, 6 July 2000)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)
My Lords, we are concerned about Cameroon's human rights record and are keen to ensure that the provisions for human rights laid down in the Harare Declaration are respected by the Cameroonian Government with equal consideration for all Cameroonians. We have raised Cameroon's human rights record with other Commonwealth governments and with the government of Cameroon.

§ Lord Thomson of Monifieth
My Lords, I thank the Minister most warmly for the constructive tone of that reply. However, is she aware that the difficulties suffered by the rather substantial English-speaking minority in Cameroon have now lasted for many years? Attention has been drawn continuously to those issues by the human rights committees of the United Nations. Is the Minister further aware that this country has a considerable moral obligation in this regard? We were the trusteeship power for the southern Cameroonians under the treaty of the League of Nations and later under the United Nations. We were also principally responsible for the arrangements under which the southern Cameroonians joined the Republic of Cameroon. Therefore, using the machinery of the Commonwealth, can the Government ensure that they increase their efforts, bearing in mind that grave reservations were expressed when the Republic of Cameroon was accepted into the Commonwealth, thus acknowledging its obligations under the Harare Declaration?

§ Baroness Scotland of Asthal
My Lords, I am aware of the matters raised by the noble Lord. It is right to say that acute concerns have been expressed about how the Anglophone Cameroonians are being treated. It is a matter that has rightly been highlighted by Her Majesty's Government. We have held discussions with 1601 our other Commonwealth partners, in particular in relation to this matter, and we shall continue to give it a great deal of attention.

§ Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, can the Minister give the House details of any other countries that come under the human rights provisions of the Harare Declaration where the Government are not satisfied that the provisions are being properly observed?

§ Baroness Scotland of Asthal
My Lords, the noble Baroness will know that in the past we have had certain difficulties with the record of a number of countries that have signed the Harare Declaration. It would be invidious to name them, because many of those countries have now resolved their problems. However, I can tell the noble Baroness that the Harare principles are still considered to be extremely important. Her Majesty's Government will ensure that they highlight every occasion on which they feel that those principles are not being adhered to appropriately.

§ Lord Wright of Richmond
My Lords, I fully share the concerns expressed about human rights in Cameroon. Nevertheless, does the Minister agree that it is a considerable compliment to the Commonwealth that Francophone Cameroon and Lusophone Mozambique have both joined? Can the Minister say anything about other applicants, such as Yemen or the Palestine Liberation Organisation?

§ Baroness Scotland of Asthal
My Lords, I cannot comment specifically on the noble Lord's final point. I agree that it is a very great compliment that a Francophone country such as Cameroon has chosen to join the Commonwealth. Joining the Commonwealth is of great benefit. We are able to intensify the discussions that we have with such countries. We are also able to help them in a material way. At a meeting on 2nd May, CMAG agreed to send a secretariat mission to examine human rights issues in Cameroon, and it has recently agreed to accept such a commission. Those are the kinds of issue that we are able to discuss with member countries.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, I am glad to hear that the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group is sending a mission to Cameroon. In addition to the matters raised by my noble friend, will the Government take into consideration the recent report by the UN rapporteur on torture, Sir Nigel Rodley, which highlighted extra-judicial executions, particularly in the north, unfair trials before military tribunals, and the persecution and harassment of journalists and human rights defenders?

§ Baroness Scotland of Asthal
My Lords, we certainly shall. Her Majesty's Government have been keen to discuss the report with international partners in order to raise the profile of Cameroon's poor human rights record. We shall use the report to underline our concerns about Cameroon. Her Majesty's 1602 Government have expressed concern about the treatment of the north-west detainees who were held for two years without trial in appalling prison conditions. Seven died in detention, and the High Commission followed closely the military tribunal of each of the detainees. We were concerned about well-documented claims of torture in detention and the use of hearsay evidence. For all those reasons, we have been clear that this is an issue that we shall continue to highlight. We shall attempt to bring about some positive movement.