HC Deb 08 June 1988 vol 134 cc839-40
12. Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he intends to make to the Government of Chile in relation to the continued imprisonment of the Socialist Party leader Clodomiro Almeyda.

Mr. Eggar

The Chilean Government have been told on several occasions of our concern, and that of our European Community partners, about Senor Almeyda since his arrest in 1987. We remain in touch with our European Community partners on this issue.

Mrs. Clwyd

Does the Minister agree that while significant leaders of the Left such as Mr. Almeyda remain in prison on trumped-up charges, there can be no meaningful return to democracy in Chile? Does he further agree that it is an utter deception for him to suggest otherwise, as he did earlier?

Mr. Eggar

I made it clear that we have made representations about the treatment of Senor Almeyda. I said, and I am happy to repeat it, that there have been considerable moves in the right direction in Chile. They have not gone nearly far enough, but we should at least recognise movement when there has been some.

Mr. Gow

To what extent, if at all, is it a principle of British foreign policy that we do not interfere in the internal affairs of other sovereign states?

Mr. Eggar

I did not recognise my hon. Friend criticising the President of the United States for making representations about human rights in the Soviet Union. It is clearly recognised, by the various United Nations and other conventions to which we are party, that we have a right to indicate our views on human rights in other countries.

Mr. Heffer

Is the Minister aware that I agree with what he said to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow)? It is important that the British Government are as strong about human rights in Chile as they are about human rights in the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, will the Minister be a bit more vigorous about what is happening in Chile, just as the Government have rightly been vigorous about human rights in the Soviet Union?

Mr. Eggar

When the hon. Gentleman leaps to my defence I get slightly worried, but I must tell him and my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow) that, in regard to human rights, we try to be utterly consistent as between different countries and different regimes. Even if that is not recognised by the hon. Gentleman, it is by the international community and the human rights commission of the United Nations. We have a fine record of being consistent.