The Cameroon Republic (Hansard, 30 November 1992)

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, we have noted with grave concern the numerous reports of widespread intimidation and repressive measures taken by the Cameroonian authorities against opposition parties and of serious human rights abuses since the results of the election were announced. We have called on the Cameroon Government to take all possible measures to end human rights abuses and to take active measures to demonstrate their commitment to democracy.

§ Lord Rea
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that Answer, which on first hearing sounds quite robust. However, I think the problem is one of giving some teeth to the Government's expressed indignation. Is she aware that the National Democratic Institute of the United States, which monitored last month's presidential elections in Cameroon, concluded that, widespread irregularities seriously call into question the validity of the outcome"? In view of the subsequent house arrest in Bamenda of the opposition candidate, John Fru Ndi, whom I have met both in Cameroon and in this country and who is an eminently reasonable man, and the human rights abuses which the noble Baroness has mentioned, will the Government consider terminating all development aid to Cameroon and encouraging in their presidency of the EC all other EC members to do the same, 1172 particularly their opposite numbers in the Quai ďOrsay since France has a special relationship with Cameroon? I ask this particularly because the United States has in the past two days suspended all except humanitarian aid to Cameroon for the same reason.

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, I am aware of the report from the American National Democratic Institute. The Cameroon supreme court in announcing the result also drew attention to a flawed process. One example of the reasons for international concern was the result in South Province. Although government figures showed 190,000 people of voting age, voter turnout, overwhelmingly in support of President Biya, was given as 216,000. With regard to our aid, which is about £3 million a year, it is largely devoted to important forestry conservation projects. We are keeping the situation under review in consultation with other major aid donors.

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, can the noble Baroness give an estimate of the number of political prisoners currently being held in Cameroon? Can she say what representations the Government have made, or whether they will make representations, to secure the release of opposition leaders who have been arrested and detained for no other reason than that they have criticised the government?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, many members of the opposition have been arrested. In particular, the main opposition candidate, John Fru Ndi, is currently under detention together with around 150 of his supporters. A Cameroonian mission led by the deputy foreign minister, Mr. Francis Nkwain, visited the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 18th November. We made our views plain to this mission and have subsequently drawn a British statement issued on 19th November to the attention of the Cameroon government.

§ Lord Bonham-Carter
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that it is universally agreed that the human rights situation in Cameroon is particularly outrageous? If we are not prepared to withdraw aid under these circumstances, would she be so good as to tell your Lordships under what circumstances we would withdraw aid?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, as I said, we are discussing this with other major aid donors.