HC Deb 14 May 1984 vol 60 cc19-22 3.30 pm
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Malcolm Rifkind)

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I should like to make a statement on the Britons taken prisoner in February by UNITA in Angola.

I am pleased to confirm to the House that UNITA has released the Britons to our emissary and they are all on their way home. We are naturally very pleased that this difficult experience for both the prisoners and their families and friends is over. I should like to record the Government's thanks to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its assistance over the prisoners' welfare.

Mr. Donald Anderson (Swansea, East)

The Minister will be aware that, although we have profound differences with the Government on South African policy in general, which has been symbolised by the Prime Minister's invitation to Mr. Botha, we rejoice with him at the release of our nationals in Angola. Although I am satisfied that the International Red Cross could not deliver on its own, and although this is a dangerous precedent, there was probably no other course available to the Government. Therefore, we rejoice with the released hostages and their families.

Will the Minister assure the House that Sir John Leahy's three-hour discussion with UNITA representatives was narrowly confined to the hostages, not to broader political matters in which UNITA had hoped we would become involved? Will he confirm that there were no secret clauses or understandings with UNITA which have not been made public, and that in her talks with Mr. Botha the Prime Minister will make clear to him our view that the South African Government should stop assisting the UNITA rebels?

There must be many other British nationals working in Angola who are at risk. What advice would the Minister give to our nationals still in Angola?

Mr. Rifkind

I am grateful that the hon. Gentleman has welcomed the developments. The Government's anxiety throughout this episode has been to apply humanitarian considerations and to do what was necessary to ensure the release of the British prisoners. We have not yet had a detailed account of the discussions between Sir John Leahy and Dr. Savimbi, but I understand that there was a general exchange of views on the position in southern Africa. I assure the hon. Gentleman that no secret clauses, agreements or understanding were required during those discussions. Sir John's visit to Jamba was in accordance with the agreement whereby, as a result of his visit, the British prisoners would be released immediately. We are glad that that happened.

As to South African assistance to UNITA, we hope to see the removal of all foreign interference from Angola, both Cuban and South African, so that the people of Angola can decide their destiny.

As there is a civil war in Angola, it is impossible for anyone to guarantee the safety of British workers there. The British ambassador and other staff have always made British personnel aware of our view on security in that country. However, at the end of the day it must be for the British personnel and their employers to decide whether they should continue working there.

Mr. Peter Tapsell (East Lindsey)

May I congratulate my hon. Friend on the skilful and patient way in which he has handled the matter, and Sir John Leahy on the way in which he has conducted a delicate and potentially personally dangerous operation on our behalf?

Mr. Rifkind

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his remarks, and I shall ensure that his congratulations are passed on to Sir John Leahy. It has been a difficult task, but I think that the House will agree that Sir John fulfilled any requirements in a most admirable way.

Dr. David Owen (Plymouth, Devonport)

Although I accept that the Government were right, on humanitarian grounds, to use this rather exceptional procedure, does not the hon. Gentleman agree that as the visit was facilitated by the South African Government it is now crucial—for the British Government's credibility in southern Africa and in the United Nations — that we should make it absolutely clear that we are still committed to achieving a solution to Namibian independence on the basis of the various United Nations resolutions?

Mr. Rifkind

The Government have already made it clear that they believe that Namibian independence can best be achieved on the basis of Security Council resolution No. 435. I assure the right hon. Gentleman that when my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister meets Mr. Botha one of the main subjects to be discussed will be the situation in Namibia, and a desire to see early independence for that country.

Sir John Biggs-Davison (Epping Forest)

Will not the House and the country wish to congratulate the Government on the success of this humanitarian effort? Did not Sir John Leahy gain the impression of quite a substantial force and organisation in UNITA? Is it not true that the Government of Angola have no basis in any elections or referendum? Will the Government see what can be done to bring about a broader-based Government in that country?

Mr. Rifkind

Sir John Leahy has not yet returned to the United Kingdom, and so we have not yet been able to have the benefit of his detailed thoughts on these matters. There is no doubt that UNITA represents a significant guerrilla force operating within Angola. It remains our desire to see a Government in Angola who are in accordance with the wishes of the people of that country. It must be for them to decide on their destiny, and not for other countries to seek to impose a solution on them.

Mr. Andrew Faulds (Warley, East)

Particularly in view of that previous question, will the hon. Gentleman accept that some of us have strong reservations about Her Majesty's Government setting a very ill-advised precedent in yielding to such diplomatic and political blackmail, but more particularly in this case, since the arrangements apparently required South African military assistance?

Mr. Rifkind

We do not consider that any precedent has been set. In the past, when British prisoners have been taken hostage, it has always been the Government's policy to speak to those who have physical control over them in order to try to facilitate their release. What we have said in the past and what we said on this occasion is that we are not prepared to make any concessions with regard to British policy in order to facilitate the release of British prisoners, but that we remained absolutely willing to speak to those who had physical control over our citizens, and that if such conversations led to their release we would welcome it. That is what happened on this occasion.

Mr. Jim Spicer (Dorset, West)

As UNITA forces seem to be able to move about, and almost to choose targets at will, will my hon. Friend give me an assurance that the Angolan Government are fully conscious of their responsibility to protect overseas citizens in Angola and that no British firm will on any account employ its own armed security forces in such a situation?

Mr. Rifkind

My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to such matters. We have emphasised to the Angolan Government that prime responsibility for the physical protection of those working in Angola, and particularly for expatriates, must lie with the Angolan Government. We clearly have no direct control over what other means companies in Angola may choose to use to ensure their protection. However, I certainly agree with my hon. Friend that the Angolan Government must accept responsibility for protecting those within its frontiers.

Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North)

Although I welcome the release of the hostages, is it not a fact—as shown on television screens yesterday —that the rebel forces used the event as a propaganda coup? Is it not about time that the Government told the South African Government loudly and clearly that they should not be using every means at their disposal to destabilise neighbouring states that do not happen to agree with South African policy?

Mr. Rifkind

I have no doubt—and this is the view of the Government—that the South African and Cuban presences in Angola are not assisting the process of peace in that country. A South African withdrawal from southern Angola is clearly in progress and we hope that it will not be too long before all foreign forces leave the country.

Mr. Teddy Taylor (Southend, East)

In the inquiries that my hon. Friend made before Sir John's departure, did he gain the impression that UNITA was in effective control of a significant part of the land of Angola?

Mr. Rifkind

In the preliminary stages of our efforts towards the release of the British prisoners our main preoccupation was with the whereabouts and physical well-being of the prisoners. Clearly the fact that they could be marched from Cafunfo in the north to Jamba in the very south of the country shows the extent to which UNITA is able to operate within Angola, but a distinction must be drawn between being able to operate within a territory and actually being in control of it. We are not able to come to any firm view as to the precise total area controlled by UNITA, but I agree that clearly it operates over a very wide area.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle (Lincoln)

Does my hon. Friend accept that this happy conclusion shows that the Government were right to speak directly with UNITA and to recognise the realities of the situation? Does he further accept that the family involved in my constituency will be extremely relieved at the outcome?

Mr. Rifkind

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. As I emphasised earlier, we have always taken into account the humanitarian aspect. I am sure that the whole House would agree that if speaking to the people in physical control of the prisoners would facilitate their release it would have been unreasonable and foolish for the Government to decline to do so.

Mr. Edward Leigh (Gainsborough and Horncastle)

Does my hon. Friend Agree that UNITA is the de facto Government of southern Angola up to and beyond the Benguala railway? As UNITA is clearly not just another terrorist movement, what arrangements are being made to maintain some informal or indirect contact with its representatives so as to avoid any repetition of the misunderstandings which led to the kidnapping?

Mr. Rifkind

UNITA itself does not claim to be the de facto Government either of southern Angola or of the country as a whole. I understand that it has expressed an aspiration to be part of a coalition Government in Angola, but clearly these are matters for the Angolan people to decide.