§ 17. Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Peruvian ambassador to discuss the democratic process in that country.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last discussed Peru with the Peruvian ambassador on 18 November 1992. I visited Lima from 7 to 9 January and was able to assess the progress that Peru has made in restoring democratic government.
§ Mr. McFallIs the Minister aware that when I visited Peru last year, I witnessed for myself the evil which the Sendero Luminoso is perpetrating on the people of Peru? However, there is no social welfare programme in that country, and the more President Fujimori goes ahead with his proposals and ignores the social reality, the worse it will be for the western world, particularly in relation to drugs. When the Secretary of State next meets the ambassador, will he impress on him the overall need for democracy in Peru so that that helps the people of that country?
§ Mr. Garel-JonesI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his perfectly correct remarks about Sendero Luminoso which is probably the most horrific terrorist organisation operating anywhere on the globe today. We must recognise that since the autumn coup—as I believe it is called—President Fujimori has made progress in the restoration of democracy and the new constitutional assembly holds out considerable hope for the future of Peru. When I was there, I was able to speak not only to the Speaker of that assembly, but to a number of human rights groups. I agree with the hon. Gentleman that, in the end, although the activities of Sendero Luminoso may be challenging and deeply repulsive, the route to its defeat must be through the proper restoration of full democratic human rights in Peru.