South African Elections: Observers (Hansard, 26 April 1994)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)
My Lords, on behalf of the Foreign Secretary I briefed the parliamentarians concerned on 20th April. They were also thoroughly briefed on security on arrival. They are observing the elections with South Africans familiar with the local situation. Security forces are present at all polling stations. Certain areas may be tense but British parliamentarians are unlikely to be at greater risk than other observers.

§ Baroness Sharples
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that somewhat reassuring reply. Is she aware that the 20 observers under the CPA umbrella were obliged to sign disclaimers? Can my noble friend reassure me that as under English law it is not possible to exclude liability by negligence for personal injury, the observers will be fully protected?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, my noble friend is quite right in what she says; but I believe that she knows that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is responsible for all the arrangements for the British group of parliamentarians. I understand that certain insurance arrangements have been made and that the parliamentarians were given details of an insurer whom they should contact if they wanted further cover. I suggest to my noble friend that she should contact the CPA office for further information; but I believe that the British observers have been properly looked after.

§ Lord Dean of Beswick
My Lords, will the Minister tell the House whether any Members of your Lordships' House are among those observers and, if so, whether they are also insured? If they are, that will be the first time that that has applied because Members of this House are not insured here when travelling on government or opposition business, even though all the Members of another place are so insured.

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I do not believe that my noble friend Lord Astor of Hever, who is travelling with the group, will be treated in any way differently from the other observers with the CPA/IPU delegation.

§ Lord Dean of Beswick
My Lords, I was referring to a noble Baroness.

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I believe that the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis, and my noble friend Lady Flather are also there. They will all be covered in a similar manner by the CPA.

§ Lord St John of Bletso
My Lords, does the Minister not agree that, despite the recent bombing in Johannesburg, Germiston and Pretoria and despite the on-going violence in several of the townships, more specifically in the mid-Rand and Natal, the peace accord of 1992 and the peace committees have to a large degree quelled the major unrest spots in South Africa? Does the Minister not further agree that the government, in particular President de Klerk, Nelson Mandela and Chief Mangosothu Buthelezi, have all committed themselves to ensuring that the international observers are safe?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I can agree with everything that the noble Lord has just said. I should point out also to your Lordships that Britain has made a very great contribution to the whole conduct of the elections; in particular to training those people who were looking after the rallies, helping with the new national peacekeeping force, helping too with the independent electoral commission and, above all, providing training and communication equipment for the peace monitors as well as training for the local election officials. Our contributions and those of President de Klerk, Mr. Mandela and, indeed, Chief Buthelezi in working for peace are much to be welcomed. I believe that the IFP' s decision to contest the election will lead to reduced levels of violence across the country as a whole.

§ Lord Judd
My Lords, will the Minister send the good will of the entire House to those who are witnessing the elections on our behalf, underlining the fact that we see it as a demonstration of our determination that the courageous leadership from people of all races in South Africa which has made the election possible will not be diverted by extremists and their terrorist techniques?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord. There are some 6,000 observers, about 3,000 of them official and 3,000 from other groups. I believe that they are doing a fine job, based on the plans laid by all parties in South Africa. We wish them well. We hope to see a peaceful outcome. We look forward to working with the government of national unity elected in these first historic elections.

§ Lord Pender
My Lords, does my noble friend accept that, while there is an element of tension prior to the elections, I have just returned from a quick visit to South Africa which took in the three cities of Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town and I can assure the House that, although there are isolated areas of unrest, in the main the British parliamentarians would be just as safe walking the streets of those cities as they would Brixton on a Saturday afternoon?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for what he has said. Given the number of people who are watching the elections 516 and the supporting system, I believe that they will be even safer than they would in the contrasting parts of this country that he mentioned. Many people are working for these peaceful elections, none more so than the happy South Africans who are voting for the first time.

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, has the Minister been in Trafalgar Square today? Does she, agree with me that it is a most wonderful sight to see the queues around South Africa House, mainly white but also black and Indian, all voting together?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I regret that I have not had the time to go to Trafalgar Square today, but throughout the morning I have heard reports of the growing numbers going to cast their votes in this first fully democratic election in South Africa. That is much to be welcomed. We hope that it is happening in all capitals around the world where votes are being so cast.