§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the extent of denial of human rights in re-education camps in Vietnam; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 5 February, at column 182.
Many thousands of people have been detained since 1975 in the so-called "re-education" camps in Vietnam, without charge or trial, apparently on an indefinite basis and in contravention of the international covenant on civil and political rights, which Vietnam ratified in 1982. We are deeply disturbed that the detainees have still been neither charged, nor tried nor released, and that they continue to be subjected to harsh treatment.