Sudan (Hansard, 28 January 2004)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)
My Lords, the Sudan peace talks at Naivasha have not been postponed. They were adjourned on 26 January and are due to resume on 17 February. Consequently this has no adverse implications for the peace process: on the contrary we expect the parties to make good use of this break to identify ways to resolve the remaining issues and to prepare for discussion of detailed ceasefire and implementation arrangements.

§ Lord Astor of Hever
My Lords, I am very grateful to the Minister for that response. The situation in Sudan is deteriorating rapidly with 18,000 refugees fleeing Darfur last week. What steps are being taken to verify reports of major human rights violations there and to protect inhabitants of that region?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, as your Lordships had the opportunity to discuss on 15 January, the situation in Darfur is peculiarly difficult. It is not a situation that pervades throughout the whole of Sudan. There are remaining problems which are being discussed in the peace talks, but Darfur is a very particular problem. Our Special Representative, Alan Goulty, has reported back to me on these issues. I understand that our representatives in Khartoum are speaking on an almost daily basis not only to the Sudan Government but also to the various factions in Darfur. We are doing our best to monitor what is going on. It is extremely difficult when the situation is as violent as it is. What is needed first of all is a ceasefire and then access by the NGOs.
In relation to human rights I can, however, tell your Lordships—I am very pleased to be able to say this— that we have now learnt that one of the situations which was giving rise to considerable difficulty; namely, the cross-amputation sentence on a 16 year-old boy who had been accused of armed robbery, has now been successfully appealed.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, the noble Baroness will correct me if I am wrong, but was there not common agreement that the final peace deal would be signed by the end of this month? Has she noted that the SPLA has said that, from its point of view, there was no reason at all for the adjournment? Does that not indicate at least some possible difficulties, either with the constitutional status of the Abyei region, or, possibly, the power sharing? Can the Minister throw any light on that? Regarding Darfur, is she aware that the World Food Programme said that 110,000 people have fled across the border into Chad—many of them seriously injured—and that none of the humanitarian agencies has access to the people who are suffering in Darfur itself? Will Her Majesty's Government and the European Union under the Irish presidency make strong representations on the matter to allow humanitarian access to that territory?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, we are making strong representations and I hope that none of your Lordships is in any doubt about that. We 206 are speaking on an almost daily basis to the parties and that indicates just how engaged Her Majesty's Government have been. Of course we are concerned about the situation in Darfur. I have said that the priorities have to be a ceasefire and humanitarian access. Until there can be a ceasefire it is difficult for monitors to go in safely. The priority after that will be aid to feed the people.
Regarding whether there is another agenda, which was the implication of the question put by the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, about the adjournment in the talks, I have specifically asked questions of officials. I am told that it was thought to be a good thing to have the adjournment, because some of the participants wanted to celebrate Eid.

§ Lord Clarke of Hampstead
My Lords, is the Minister aware that her reply to the debate on Sudan on 15 January in this House has given hope to a number of people who are seeking to improve the human rights situation there? Is she further aware that a number of the cases that were referred to in that debate have met with full and frank replies from her department? I should like to place on record my own appreciation of the efforts that she and her colleagues have been making.

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that and for his participation in that debate on 15 January; and I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Cox, for initiating it in an energetic manner. It is important to put some of those messages across and I am grateful that they are reaching the places where we wish them to be received. Regarding human rights, the involvement of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development has had some impact in relation to the cross-amputation sentence. We now await a response on the other question that raised considerable anxiety among your Lordships concerning the sentence of flogging on a 16 year-old girl. We are still working on that important case.

§ Lord Hylton
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for her comments on Darfur province and for her recent Written Answer to me. However, can she assure the House that the Government will use their best efforts to make certain that the problems of all of the outlying and marginal areas of the Sudan are fully taken into account when the larger peace negotiations resume?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I can tell the noble Lord that we will do our best. I am sure he will accept that it is not possible to be able to monitor what is happening when very violent situations exist. We have a special unit. We have a special representative, Alan Goulty, and his able team, comprising officials from both the Foreign Office and the Department for International Development, who are working hard on the issues. We continue to remain heavily engaged on the Southern Blue Nile areas, the Nuba mountains and the Abie area, which are part of the central negotiations in Naivasha.