HC Deb 07 July 1982 vol 27 cc273-4
1. Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Chilean junta by Her Majesty's Government concerning violations of human rights over the course of the last three months.

8. Mr. Flannery

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government last protested to the Chilean Government concerning the violation of human rights in Chile.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Cranley Onslow)

The British ambassador in Santiago made representations to the Chilean Foreign Minister on 3 April. I also raised the question of human rights with the Chilean ambassador on 6 May.

The Chilean Government have taken note of our representations, and are therefore in no doubt as to our concern.

Mr. Davis

I appreciate that the Minister's answer shows that the Government are not prepared to be selective in their condemnation of Fascist tyranny, but what are the Chilean Government doing in response to the representations that have been made? Am I not right in thinking that singularly little has been done in response to similar representations that have been made by the Government since 1979?

Mr. Onslow

Representations have been made over a period of time by the Government and their predecessors. The hon. Gentleman has probably studied the report of the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations General Assembly, which was published in November 1981. That report lists the areas of concern, and they are well known to the Chileans. We have impressed upon them our hope that they will show by their actions this year that they appreciate the importance of the issue and the need to move forward to a more acceptable position.

Mr. Flannery

Does the Minister remember the torturing of Sheila Cassidy, who is now president of the Chilean human rights committee? Does he further remember that William Beausire, who is a British as well as a Chilean citizen, was kidnapped from a plane in Argentina while on his way to Paris, taken back to Chile and tortured there? We have reason to believe that that young man is still alive. Are the British Government doing anything to get William Beausire home and to find out what the Chilean Government have done?

Mr. Onslow

Both those cases are familiar. The Chilean Government are well aware of our concern. They know that we do not regard either of those cases as closed. We have pressed them to pursue the matter as best they can, but there are obvious difficulties, of which the hon. Gentleman will be aware. I shall continue to draw the concern of the House about those people to the Chilean Government.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I remind the House that questions must be about Chile.