§ 2.46 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when a representative of the United Nations Secretary-General last visited West Irian under Article XVI of the West Irian Agreement; whether any investigation has been carried out by such a representative, or by any one else in the United Nations Secretariat, of the allegation by West Irian Congressman Silas Papare that the Indonesian Air Force has attacked West Irian tribal villages killing 1,000 villagers; and whether, if no investigation has taken place, then Her Majesty's Government, as a Permanent Member of the Security Council, will use their influence to ensure that such an investigation is carried out by an official of the United Nations Secretariat without delay.]
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, Mr. Rolz-Bennett, an Under-Secretary in the United Nations Secretariat, visited West Irian in 1964. There has been no subsequent visit by a representative of the Secretary-General under the provisions of Article XVI of the West Irian Agreement. While I am not aware of any investigation carried out by any official in the United Nations Secretariat specifically into the allegation by Congressman Papare, I understand that since Indonesia's resumption of participation in the United Nations, consultations between the Secretary-General and the Indonesian Government about West Irian have been renewed and are still continuing. Her Majesty's Government have complete confidence in the Secretary-General's awareness of his obligations with respect to the Agreement of 1962.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, is it not perfectly scandalous that for three years no representative of the United Nations Secretariat has gone to see the position of these most unfortunate people who are undoubtedly being oppressed by the Indonesians? Is the noble Lord aware that 961 the Indonesian Foreign Secretary, Mr. Malik, has admitted that tribesmen have been killed by Indonesian forces? The only thing he has denied is that as many as 1,000 have been killed. When are Her Majesty's Government going to do their duty, as a Permanent Member of the Security Council, to see that an official goes to Indonesia and finds out what is happening to these poor people in West Irian?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, of course I can understand the noble Lord's deep concern about these matters. But the main reason why there has been such a long period without a visit of any representative of the Secretary-General is that, as the noble Lord will know, Indonesia withdrew for some time from participation in the United Nations, and this created insuperable difficulties. But I am glad to say that the new Administration under General Suharto has already given evidence of a desire to meet Indonesia's international obligations, and I see no reason to doubt the new Government's willingness to co-operate with the Secretary-General in implementing the Agreement. So far as Her Majesty's Government's position is concerned, we are, of course, members of the Security Council. The Secretary-General has full competence to bring a matter of this sort to the notice of the Security Council, where we shall, if this is done, play a full part.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, is this good enough when the British Government, with other Governments, are the employers of the Secretary-General? Should they not initiate action; not just wait for the Secretary-General to report? In view of the allegation that 1.000 villagers have been killed by Indonesian forces, is it not quite time that someone went out very quickly, whether invited or not?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, I cannot accept that this is a matter in which Her Majesty's Government should take an initiative. It is entirely for the Secretary-General to determine what reports he needs on the situation in West Irian. 962 The main parties to this Agreement, as the noble Lord will know, are the Government of Indonesia and the Government of the Netherlands, and the Secretary-General has, as I say, full competence to bring any threat to international peace or security to the attention of the Security Council. I really must insist that this is not a matter in which I should prejudge the result of any action or any investigation the Secretary-General may undertake.
THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether the United Nations have formally renounced any intention of ever holding a referendum in West Irian?
§ LORD CHALFONTNo, my Lords; certainly no such renunciation has been made. As the noble Earl will know, we have until 1969 to see a plebiscite in West Irian, and no such renunciation has been made or, so far as I know, is contemplated.
§ LORD GRIMSTON OF WESTBURYMy Lords, is this not another example of how very selective the United Nations are about where they make complaints, and also that the occasions on which they make complaints are governed almost entirely by political considerations?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, we all know how easy it is to criticise the United Nations. I think I should be failing in my duty if I did not point out that the policy of Her Majesty's Government, while recognising any weaknesses there are in the United Nations Organisation and its methods, is to support it with all the strength at our command.