HL Deb 14 May 1996 vol 572 cc43-4WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will use their best endeavours, bilaterally and as a member of the European Union, to persuade the government of Indonesia to comply with the recommendations of the High Commissioner for Human Rights following his visit to Indonesia and East Timor of 3rd to 7th December 1995, as reported in E/CN. 4/1996/112 of 14th March 1996, and in particular, whether they will press for the establishment of a United Nations human rights presence in East Timor and the granting to international human rights NGOs of full access to Indonesia and East Timor.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

Together with our European partners, we continue to urge the Indonesian Government fully to implement the recommendations of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, following his recent visit to Indonesia and East Timor in December 1995, and to improve access to the territory for human rights and humanitarian organisations.

We note with satisfaction the possibility that the High Commissioner will assign to the UNDP office in Jakarta a human rights officer who would have regular access to East Timor.