§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Brazilian Government to seek the transfer of forthcoming trials in the cases of Expedito Ribeiro de Sousa and Jose and Paulo Canuto to the state capital to reduce the risk of interference with jurors and witnesses.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIt would not be appropriate for us to express a view on this matter.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Brazilian Government about the continuing violence against rural workers in the region of Rio Maria and Xinguara in the state of Para.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe are in regular touch with the Brazilian authorities regarding a range of human rights issues, including the position of rural workers.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will send a diplomatic representative to observe the trials in connection with the murders of trade union officials Expedito Ribeiro de Sousa and Jose and Paulo Canuto in the Brazilian state of Para.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydOur embassy in Brasilia will be monitoring the trials.