§ Lord AVEBURYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware that an EEC aided project, the construction of a dam and animal barriers on the river Baro in the Gambela region of Ethiopia, involves the possible displacement without compensation from their lands 720WA of people belonging to the Anuak tribe; that these lands form the greater part of the area inhabited by this tribe, who depend on the lands for their livelihood; that hundreds of the tribes-people have been murdered by the Ethiopian security police either within the area itself or as they try to escape over the border into Sudan; and whether they will move to appoint an EEC representative to investigate these crimes, and in the meanwhile to suspend any contributions.
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (Lord Carrington)Preliminary studies of water resources in the Gambela region, as in other areas of Ethiopia, have been financed by the European Development Fund. The Government are not aware, however, of any proposal that the European Community should finance the construction of a dam and animal barriers on the River Baro. But I will nevertheless refer the points made by the noble Lord to the European Community.
House adjourned at seven minutes before eleven o'clock.