§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received any representations from any organisation about the denial of human rights in the Punjab, India; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarRepresentations received include a report forwarded by the hon. Member, and the matter was the subject of an Adjournment debate in the House on 11 November 1988.
As my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office said on that occasion, the Government have always made clear their views on the need for all Governments to respect human rights. We must, however, recognise that the democratic Government of India faces a violent challenge to the rule of law from ruthless terrorists. The Indian Government none the less announced measures in March aimed at improving the situation in the Punjab.