HC Deb 03 December 1992 vol 215 cc316-7W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Government have taken at the United Nations or elsewhere about the current political and constitutional position in Cameroon.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

A Cameroonian mission, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Francis Nkwain, visited the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 18 November. We called on the Cameroon Government on this occasion to take all possible measures to end human rights abuses and to take active measures to demonstrate their commitment to democracy. We have subsequently drawn to the attention of the Cameroon Government a British statement issued on 19 November which urged President Biya to end the state of emergency and to release those in detention or under house arrest, especially leaders of the opposition parties.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations he has made into the civil rights position of the SDF candidate for the presidency in Cameroon in respect of human rights; and whether his Department has sought to meet Mr. John Fru Ndi recently.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The continued restriction on Mr. Fru Ndi appear to run counter to Cameroon's obligations under the international convention on civil and political rights. The British ambassador to Cameroon has spoken to Mr. Fru Ndi several times by telephone and a member of the embassy visited the North-West Province on 23–24 November, when he was able to meet him in person.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Government have made about the treatment of the English-speaking Cameroons in recent years.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We have been given no grounds to make such representations in recent years. The current problems in Cameroon are not solely related to problems between the anglophone and francophone communities in Cameroon, but rather stem from the conduct of the presidential election on 11 October and the increase in human rights abuses in the aftermath of that election.