HC Deb 20 March 1998 vol 308 cc769-71W
Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Royal Cambodian Government on human rights. [35072]

Mr. Fatchett

We are concerned about the human rights situation in Cambodia. We seize every suitable opportunity to raise our concerns with the Cambodian authorities. Most recently, as EU Presidency, we delivered a formal demarche on human rights to the Cambodian authorities on 26 February. Our Ambassador at Phnom Penh raised human rights with Cambodian Second Prime Minister Hun Sen on 11 February. I pressed the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister strongly on these issues during the latter's visit to London on 21 January.

We are also exerting pressure on the Cambodian authorities to improve their human rights record through multilateral forums including the UN, G8 and "Friends of Cambodia" process spearheaded by the ASEAN Troika.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current human rights situation in Cambodia. [35074]

Mr. Fatchett

We are concerned at the human rights situation in Cambodia. There have been some recent improvements on the ground, including a ceasefire between opposing forces in northern Cambodia and the return of some prominent political exiles to contest the forthcoming elections. But important problems remain, notably in respect of investigations into serious human rights abuses catalogued last August by the UN Secretary General's Special Representative on Cambodia. We continue to exert pressure on the Cambodian authorities to improve their human rights record, through bilateral and multilateral forums.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the Government have to support the forthcoming elections in Cambodia. [35075]

Mr. Fatchett

We are providing electoral assistance for Cambodia through the European Union. The EU assistance package—totalling 9.5 mecu—is being disbursed subject to strict political conditionality. As EU Presidency, we are ensuring that the Council keeps the situation on the ground in Cambodia under close review. We stand ready to suspend assistance if we judge that elections will not be free and fair.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken in respect of the request by the UN Secretary General's Special Representative to Cambodia in August 1997 for criminal investigations into cases of alleged torture and execution. [35076]

Mr. Fatchett

We strongly support the work of the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Cambodia. We ensured that the UN General Assembly Resolution on Cambodia last December renewed the call for investigations into the human rights abuses catalogued in the Special Representative's report of August 1997. I pressed the Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia strongly on these issues on 21 January. As EU Presidency, we delivered a formal demarche on human rights and the need for investigations to senior Cambodian Ministers, including Second Prime Minister Hun Sen, on 26 February. The Cambodian Government have recently agreed to accept UN experts to help facilitate investigations into human rights abuses.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government of Cambodia in respect of the coup by Hun Sen in July 1997. [35077]

Mr. Fatchett

Since the military clashes in Cambodia last July, we have sought to promote national reconciliation and respect for democracy and human rights. Through bilateral and multilateral contacts, including the "Friends of Cambodia" process, we have encouraged the Cambodian authorities to restore representative government by holding free and fair elections which are now due on 26 July.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government propose to raise the issue of human rights in Cambodia at the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. [35078]

Mr. Fatchett

We will work to ensure that the forthcoming UN Commission on Human Rights adopts a resolution on Cambodia based on an objective assessment of the situation on the ground. We want the Resolution to give credit for recent positive developments and to identify specific areas in which we seek urgent improvements by the Cambodian authorities.