§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimates he has assessed relating to the numbers of Sudanese civilians that have been killed as a result of warfare since 1991, indicating where possible, the ethnic group of casualties. [678]
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§ Mr. HanleyNo detailed figures are available. But the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Sudan suggested in his most recent report, February 1996, that 1.2 million people had died since 1983 as a result of the Sudan civil war.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs what measures his Department intends to take to encourage the Government of Sudan to(a) conduct a referendum on the independence of southern Sudan and (b) bring about a ceasefire; and what discussions are planned with the Government of Sudan. [679]
§ Mr. HanleyWe continue to make clear to the Government of Sudan that we look to them to move towards a negotiated end to the civil war by declaring a ceasefire and that its continuing prosecution of the civil war stands in the way of an improvement in bilateral relations with the UK. The British ambassador in Khartoum sees members of the Government there frequently. The need for an end to the civil war is always high on the agenda.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department intends to take to encourage the Government of Sudan to repatriate the Sudanese who have been displaced by civil war. [680]
§ Mr. HanleyThe return of Sudanese displaced by the civil war to their local regions is not possible while the civil war continues.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British diplomats have visited the Nuer lands of Upper Nile state in southern Sudan since Dr. Riek Machar signed the "political charter" with the Sudan Government in April 1996 to assess popular support and the support of traditional leaders (i) for him and (ii) for his signing of the charter; and what were those assessments. [994]
§ Mr. HanleyThe embassy has an active programme of visits to all parts of Sudan but has not visited the Nuer lands since July 1995.
§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will conduct a review of British Government policy towards the Sudan. [986]
§ Mr. HanleyWe keep British policy towards Sudan, and, in particular, what we can usefully do to help the situation in the south, under constant review.