§ 6. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to raise in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights the brutalities being committed in Mozambique and other front-line States.
§ Mr. RowlandsNo, Sir.
§ Mr. KingDoes the Foreign Office accept that, in the context of human rights, unspeakable brutalities are being committed daily in Mozambique and frontline States, and not only by Amin? If the Foreign Office is to preserve any reputation for impartiality, is it not really time that it became colour-blind on this issue?
§ Mr. RowlandsThe terms and language of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question really are monstrous, in the context—[interruption.] Obviously. there are Press reports, but they are not substantiated, and we do not think that we should take these cases to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights unless there is evidence that substantiates them.
§ Mr. CroninDoes. my hon. Friend agree that it would be unrealistic at present to take the matter before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights? Does he also agree that, unhappily, brutalities are inevitable in any kind of guerrilla warfare of this nature and that the best course of action that his right hon. Friend could take would be to pursue a peaceful solution, in spite of the obduracy of the Smith Government?
§ Mr. RowlandsI certainly think that the real peace and security of the area, and the human rights of all people in the area, will be best promoted by a negotiated settlement, as soon as possible, on the Rhodesia question.
§ Mr. GoodhewIf the hon. Gentleman will not take this matter to the United Nations, will he at least accept the right of the people of Rhodesia to self-determination and not have his policy dictated to him by the front-line States which are guilty of this sort of thing?
§ Mr. RowlandsWe have no intention of having our policy dictated by anyone. Our policy on Rhodesia is aimed at achieving the very thing that the hon. Gentleman talks about—the introduction of free and fair elections to identify who really are the representatives of the Zimbabwean people.
§ Mr. FauldsIs there any way that my hon. Friend can devise to enlighten the obdurate ignorance of hon. Members such as the hon. Member for Dorset, South (Mr. King) about the realities of what is happening in Mozambique? Is the hon. Member really so unknowing of the realities of the situation as not to realise that 600 Rhodesians were massacred by Rhodesian forces and that the Selous Scouts are acting in disguise, pretending to be guerrillas and carrying out mass murders in Southern Rhodesia?
§ Mr. RowlandsI do not think it is for me to recommend how we should educate certain Opposition Members in this respect, but a visit to Mapai, or to Mozambique, would show that there have been very considerable atrocities and very considerable indiscriminate killings inside Mozambique as a result of the actions of the Rhodesian security forces.