§ Mr. Wrayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information has been received from the British embassy in Santiago about recent repression carried out by military or para-military forces in Chile, and the further disappearance of dissenters; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarHer Majesty's embassy in Santiago is required to make frequent reports on human rights violations in Chile. It has informed us of the disappearance of five people in early September, and of other incidents and disturbances. We deplore violence from whatever quarter and have made clear to the Chilean Government that restoration of democracy in Chile is the best guarantee of human rights.
§ Mr. Wrayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what report has been received from the British embassy in Santiago on the signing by Chile of treaties against torture, both at the United Nations and at the Organisation of American States.
§ Mr. EggarHer Majesty's embassy in Santiago has reported that on 23 September Chile signed the United Nations convention against torture and the Inter-American convention on the prevention of torture.
§ Mr. Wrayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the British embassy in Santiago did not join the explicit and firm expressions of support for the democratic opposition in Chile given during the recent International Parliamentary Assembly held in Santiago.
§ Mr. EggarThe International Parliamentary Assembly, a privately sponsored gathering of parliamentarians, did not invite Governments. But we have made clear on many occasions our support for the restoration of democracy in48W Chile and for the democratic opposition, most recently in the statement by the Twelve of 9 October, the text of which has been placed in the Library of the House.