§ 3. Mr. David Rendel (Newbury)If she will make a statement about the humanitarian situation and the provision of aid in East Timor. [85975]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. George Foulkes)There is an increasing number of internally displaced people in East Timor as a result of the deteriorating security situation in the lead-up to the consultation on autonomy due on 8 August. We have contributed $1 million towards the costs of running the consultation. We are supporting a programme to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations in East Timor, and we provided £300,000 to last year's Red Cross emergency appeal. We are continuing to monitor the humanitarian situation.
§ Mr. RendelIs the Minister aware of reports that more than 100 people have been killed in East Timor since April by militia trained by the Indonesian police? Given the recent changes in the security sector, what contribution is his Department making to the international police force in East Timor? Will he support an increase in UN security personnel in East Timor in order to guarantee proper arrangements for the registration of voters and for the independence poll?
§ Mr. FoulkesI assure the hon. Gentleman that the Government are concerned about the situation. Security is of course the responsibility of the Government of Indonesia, but following the killing of some pro-autonomy workers by factions in Indonesia, the Prime Minister wrote to President Habibie in April expressing our concern and urging that the armed forces should provide security for everyone. The presence of the UN mission is helping the security situation. Some 280 civil police will take part, seven of them from the United Kingdom. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will join me in welcoming the fact that the head of the mission is Ian Martin, a well respected former head of Amnesty International in the UK.