§ Mr. GodsiffTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Indian high commissioner about the continued detention of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Abdul Gani Lone and Shabir Shah.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydHer Majesty's high commission in New Delhi has been following the cases of Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Shabir Shah and Abdul Gani Lone and has provided us with regular reports. We have repeatedly raised our concerns about human rights with the Indian Government, and shall continue to do so when we believe such representations are helpful and appropriate.
§ Mr. GodsiffTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the working methods and constitution of the Indian National Human Rights Commission(a) in general and (b) in relation to its investigation of the Bijbehara massacre; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Indian Human Rights Commission is due to publish its first quarterly report at the end of January. We have not sought to prejudge the operation of the commission before it has established itself. We shall look carefully at its first report which we understand will include an account of the incident at Bijbehara in October.