HC Deb 26 July 1977 vol 936 cc190-1W
Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the concern expressed by Her Majesty's Government at the 1977 meeting of the Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia that the release of political prisoners be speeded up, whether Her Majesty's Government have taken steps to find out how the recently announced programme of releases has been proceeding; if names of released prisoners have been made available; and if Her Majesty's Government will approach the Indonesian Government for information of this nature.

Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the concern expressed by Her Majesty's Government at the 1977 meeting of the Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia, he has taken any steps to find out how the recently announced programme of releases of political prisoners is proceeding; and whether the names of the prisoners released have been made available.

Mr. Luard

I refer my hon. Friend to the Answers which I gave to the hon. Member for Leek (Mr. Knox) on 20th July—[Vol. 935, c. 596–7]—and to my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) on 22nd July.

Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will raise the question of atrocities in East Timor with the Indonesian authorities.

Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further action he will take to raise the matter of atrocities in East Timor with the Indonesian Government.

Mr. Luard

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 21st July, we have already been in touch with the Indonesian Government about allegations of atrocities, which they have denied.

Mrs. Wise

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the concern expressed by Great Britain at the 1977 meeting of the Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia that the release of political prisoners should be speeded up has produced any verifiable results in terms of named released prisoners.

Mr. Luard

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the hon. Member for Leek (Mr. Knox) on 20th July—[Vol. 935, cols. 596–7.] I am not aware of the names of prisoners who may have been released since the 1977 Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia.