§ Baroness Ewart-Biggsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have protested to the Indonesian government following the recent arrest of Francisco Dias Ximenes, an East Timorese representative in the Indonesian National Assembly, and whether they can confirm that he is still under arrest.
The Earl of CaithnessFrancisco Dias Ximenes was detained by the Indonesian authorities in Dili, East Timor, in late January and has not yet been released. We understand that he is a member of the Governor's staff, not a member of either the National Assembly nor, we believe, the Local Assembly. We have not protested to the Indonesian Government.