§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in Malawi; and whether they will make representations to the Government of Malawi to ensure that the referendum on the future political structure of that country is conducted in a free and fair manner.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThere have been some improvements in the human rights field in Malawi but we remain concerned at reports of harassment and intimidation of those advocating democratic reform. The conduct of the referendum will be crucial in persuading the international community that Malawi is committed to political reform. We have made this clear in a number of contacts with the Malawian authorities.