§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that the sovereign territory of Papua New Guinea is not violated and to ensure the safety of the refugees that have fled there from West Papua.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government will take to ensure the safety of refugees in Papua New Guinea, now under attack from Indonesia.
§ Mr. LuceWe have received no information from the Government of Papua New Guinea to lead us to believe that their territory or refugees who have fled there are under threat.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will raise with the United Nations the violation of the sovereignty of Papua New Guinea by Indonesia and the safety of refugees.
§ Mr. LuceSo far as we are aware neither of the two countries directly involved has raised the matter with the United Nations, but I understand that the United Nations Commission for Human Rights representative in Papua New Guinea is fully aware of the situation.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with Australia concerning the violation of the sovereignty of East Timor and Papua New Guinea.
§ Mr. LuceWe maintain regular contact with the Australian Government on a range of issues of mutual interest in the region. The content of these discussions is confidential.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the attacks by Indonesia on Papua New Guinea; and what action Her Majesty' Government intend to take in defence of that country.
§ Mr. LuceIn addition to the questions put down by the hon. Member, the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) and my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Mr. Rathbone) I have received four letters. The Government of Papua New Guinea have made no representations to us or to the United Nations about the alleged incidents.
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§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the offensive against Papua New Guinea by Indonesia, details of which have been supplied to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceWe have seen no evidence of an Indonesian offensive against Papua New Guinea. There appears to have been an incursion by Indonesian aircraft into the airspace of Papua New Guinea on 27 March, but this does not seem to have had any offensive purpose.
There has been Indonesian military activity on their own side of the border and a number of refugees have crossed into Papua New Guinea. The two Governments concerned are in diplomatic contact and we understand that their Foreign Ministers are to meet shortly.