Ethiopia: Political Prisoners (Hansard, 30 March 1988)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Glenarthur)
My Lords, over the years we have made numerous representations. Most recently my honourable friend the Minister for Overseas Development took the matter up with the Ethiopian deputy Prime Minister during a visit to Ethiopia in January. We shall continue to raise the subject at every suitable opportunity.

§ Lord Mackie of Benshie
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Can I ask whether the Government are co-operating with other European countries in putting pressure on the Ethiopian Government? The question of human rights is very important in all our affairs. At a time when Ethiopia is getting a great deal of help surely it is right to increase the pressure. The noble Lord will know that the royal family including the ladies of that family—many of them educated here—have been confined in a smallish room for about 14 years, sleeping on the floor on mattresses which have to be backed by frequently-changed cardboard because of the damp. Surely the maximum pressure should be applied.

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, yes. I can tell the noble Lord that we are discussing with our European partners how together we might take action to secure the release of these people. My honourable friend was told in January that many political prisoners had 760 been released and that the position of the imprisoned members of the former royal family was under review. We continue to hear hints of their possible early release—but only hints.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, is it not the case that there are about 1,000 political prisoners in Addis Ababa at this time and many more in other parts of Ethiopia? Will the Minister say what the possibilities are of a human rights inquiry possibly under the aegis of the United Nations or in concert with some of our allies? Is it possible to bring pressure on this inefficient and barbaric government to change their course?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, I can confirm that there are estimated to be several thousand political prisoners in Ethiopia. As regards further pressure, in his statement in Geneva on 18th February my honourable friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State drew attention to the problem of long-term prisoners in Ethiopia. The United Kingdom representative reiterated our concern in a subsequent statement under the agenda item dealing with human rights violations in any part of the world. I cannot say that an inquiry of the sort that the noble Lord suggests is entirely ruled out. It is perhaps something which I could look at.

§ Lord Chalfont
My Lords, is the Minister aware—I am sure he is—that the conditions under which these prisoners are kept are apparently appalling, even by the most primitive standards of this kind of behaviour? In the light of the questions which have already been put to the Minister, will he give the House an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will collaborate not only with the United Nations but with the European Commission and the organs of the EC in applying whatever pressure is possible upon the Government of Ethiopia in respect of the barbaric procedures being followed in the case of these prisoners?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, I share entirely the noble Lord's concerns about the conditions in which these prisoners have been detained. Of course, they have not had a trial. As I said in answer to an earlier question, we are discussing with our European partners how we can take this forward together. The noble Lord might be interested to know that one member of the European Parliament plans to visit Ethiopia soon in her capacity as vice-president of the European Parliament's overseas aid committee at the invitation of the Ethiopian Government. She is taking up the case of the royal prisoners and hopes to see them. We certainly wish her well in her humanitarian endeavour. Perhaps I may assure the noble Lord that we shall not in any sense diminish our own efforts.

§ Lord Gisborough
My Lords, will my noble friend say whether the Government have the support of the Eastern bloc and Russia in this matter? Or are those countries accepting the position? If the Russians have the same view about this imprisonment then their support would be quite relevant.

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, I do not think that I can very well comment on the Soviet Union's efforts on human rights.

§ Lord Grimond
My Lords, does the Minister's reply mean that Her Majesty's Government intend to raise the question of gross abuse of human rights in Ethiopia in the very near future at the United Nations? Is it not the case that Ethiopia maintains the largest army in Africa? Is it not time for an inquiry into the use made by that government of the aid provided to them?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, if I have understood the noble Lord, he is inquiring about representations we have made at the United Nations. If that is not so, will the noble Lord repeat the first part of his question?

§ Lord Grimond
My Lords, in the light of the Minister's favourable replies, is it the intention of Her Majesty's Government once again to raise this question of human rights, either immediately, or in the very near future, at the United Nations?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, at further suitable opportunities I am sure that we shall. I am not sure whether or not immediately is quite the right word to use. Certainly, we shall endeavour strongly to do what we can. The aid that we supply to Ethiopia is humanitarian and for rehabilitation purposes. I do not think that the noble Lord would want to see that particular work cut down.