HC Deb 21 January 1987 vol 108 cc886-7
14. Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about human rights in Afghanistan.

Mr. Eggar

Large-scale violations of human rights continue. These are documented in the recent report of the United Nations special rapporteur. A report by Amnesty International includes accounts of the complicity of Soviet personnel in the torture of prisoners. We are deeply concerned at these allegations and have made that concern clear to the Soviet Government.

Mr. Rost

What representations can my hon. Friend make about the dreadful, shameful plight of the refugees?

Mr. Eggar

We have obviously given considerable assistance to Afghan refugees. There are 5 million refugees outside Afghanistan—more than one third of the population in 1979. We are continuing to assist in meeting their needs. Of course, the answer to the refugees' plight is the withdrawal of the occupying Soviet forces which still remain in Kabul and outside it.

Mr. Heffer

Although I totally accept the idea that we must make it absolutely clear to the Soviet Government that we are in favour of human rights in Afghanistan and elsewhere in eastern Europe, will the Minister assure us that the Government will not adopt a double standard but will be in favour of human rights in places such as Chile, Guatemala and South Africa, and that they will not take a one-sided view of human rights, as Conservative Members often do?

Mr. Eggar

If the Soviet Union and the Kabul regime now wish to permit a genuine settlement to bring peace and freedom to the Afghan people and to enable them to determine their own future, we, of course, would welcome that change of heart, but so far we have little evidence of a determination to bring about a final, peaceful settlement in Afghanistan.

Mr. Heffer

Give us the answer.

Mr. Eggar

With regard to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's question, we condemn human rights violations wherever they may take place.

Mr. Terlezki

In relation to the violation of human rights in Afghanistan and the 5 million refugees in Pakistan who are sheltering there and are not able to return to their own country, does my hon. Friend agree that at the Vienna conference the Soviet Union must be reminded time and time again that the 5 million refugees in Pakistan must all be able to return home and that the 5 million people in the Soviet Union who are in slave labour camps and psychiatric hospitals must also be released?

Mr. Eggar

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I assure him that at the Vienna CSCE conference our delegation and I—I was there just before Christmas—have taken every possible opportunity to bring the attention of the Soviet authorities to human rights abuses in the Soviet Union and elsewhere.