§ 4. Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made any representations to the Government of Chile concerning the conditions under which the impending plebiscite will be held.
§ Mr. WorthingtonI am relieved to hear that news, because there is widespread anxiety among Opposition Members about the deteriorating situation in Chile, which is shared by Solidarity, the Vicararade and Amnesty International. The persecution of trade union leaders and opposition Members in Chile is running at the rate of 95 a month. Will the Minister double his efforts to protest about the deteriorating human rights situation in Chile?
§ Mr. EggarI recognise the concern in the House about the situation in Chile. I assure the hon. Gentleman that, together with our European partners, we make a number of private and public representations about human rights there. We hope that the plebiscite will be conducted in an appropriate manner, and the co-operation among the opposition parties, in particular, is encouraging.
§ Mr. Temple-MorrisIs my hon. Friend aware that the plebiscite is a reality in which General Pinochet has chosen to offer himself as the only candidate? Therefore, will my hon. Friend accept that the most practical action that the House can take—in conjunction, one hopes, with Washington and our European allies—is to ensure that during the run-up to the campaign—and not just for the statutory 30 days of the campaign—there is fair access to the media for parties that have only the option of campaigning for a no vote and generally fair treatment during the campaign? Will he exercise pressure on behalf of the Government to that end?
§ Mr. EggarOf course, no announcement has yet been made about whether General Pinochet will be the candidate, although there are a number of rumours to that effect.
It is important to note that all the major opposition parties have combined and have announced that they will be campaigning for a no vote in the plebiscite. The signs so far are that the plebiscite will be fairly conducted.
§ Mr. WareingI found the answer of the Minister astounding. Surely, there cannot be a freely elected President of Chile as long as the leaders of political parties—such as the leader of the Socialist party—are in prison.Would it not be appropriate for the Minister or, better still, his right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, who has recently visited dissidents in the Soviet Union, to ask the Chilean dictator if they could visit Chile to speak to the dissidents, in the hope that there might be some glasnost in Chile next year?
§ Mr. EggarI have already said to the House—I think that it is widely recognised—that we take an active part in promoting the cause of human rights within Chile. We will continue to do so. However, the fact remains that over 5.5 million Chileans have registered for the plebiscite to entitle them to vote. They are registering at the rate of about 400,000 a month. That is to be welcomed. It has been welcomed by the opposition parties. One has to take account of the fact that the opposition parties in Chile are taking part in that plebiscite and are combining for a no vote.
§ Mr. FoulkesThe hon. Member for Leominster (Mr. Temple-Morris) has cogently pointed out the shortcomings of the plebiscite. Does the Minister agree that if the plebiscite is to have even a semblance of fairness, it is essential that the right of free association is given to the opposition, along with free access to the media at all times, the immediate lifting of the state of emergency and the immediate release of Clodomiro Almeyda, the Socialist leader? Will the British Government join the American Government and our European partners to make it abundantly clear to General Pinochet and the junta that those are the minimum guarantees to ensure any kind of fairness?
§ Mr. EggarI advise the hon. Gentleman that there is a later question on that matter on the Order Paper. The Chilean Government are well aware of our concern about Senor Almeyda. The democratic opposition now have some access to the television—I know that the hon. Gentleman recognises that as a step in the right direction—but we should like to see more access and we have made that absolutely clear. We welcome Admiral Merino's 831 recent commitment to lift the state of emergency 30 days before the plebiscite but we should much prefer that to be done now.