§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What information they have about the number of persons detained in Bahrain.
§ Lord Chesham:We receive information on detainees in Bahrain from a number of sources. Figures of those detained are regularly subject to change in the light of releases and arrests.
§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the invitation to Amnesty International, which the Bahraini authorities told Britain they were issuing a year ago, has yet arrived.
§ Lord Chesham:The arrangements for a visit by Amnesty International to Bahrain are a matter for Amnesty and the Bahraini authorities to pursue.
§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What information they have about the threatened imposition of martial law by the authorities in Bahrain and what precautions they will take to ensure that weapons supplied by the United Kingdom are not used for the purpose of oppression, or for the violation or suppression of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
§ Lord Chesham:We understand that the Bahraini authorities have no current intention to impose martial law in Bahrain. We are committed to a responsible policy of defence equipment sales. Applications for the export of defence equipment are considered on a case by case basis in the light of established criteria including the international guidelines to which we are committed. We take into account the human rights record of recipient states and do not export equipment which is likely to be used for internal repression.
§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are continuing to encourage dialogue between the Bahrain Government and leaders of the Bahrain opposition; and what information they have about meetings the Bahrain Government has held with the principal leaders of the opposition to discuss the opposition's demands for the restoration of the 1972 constitution.
§ Lord Chesham:We continue to encourage reconciliation through peaceful dialogue between the Bahraini authorities and members of disaffected groups.
Any meetings between the authorities and opposition groups are a matter for the parties concerned.
9WA
§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What information they had about the agreement reached in August 1995 between the Bahrain authorities and the five principal leaders of the opposition who were then in detention that they would enter into substantive discussions on the matters raised in a petition which has been signed by 25,000 Bahraini citizens.
§ Lord Chesham:Any agreements allegedly reached are a matter for the parties concerned.
§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, at the meeting between Mr. Jeremy Hanley, MP, Minister of State at the Foreign and 10WA Commonwealth Office, and the Foreign Minister of Bahrain, Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, the Foreign Minister raised any questions about Bahraini exiles living in Britian, and if so, whether he repeated the demands he made to the former Foreign Secretary that Britain should not grant asylum to three named individuals.
§ Lord Chesham:Discussion at the meeting covered several areas of mutual interest, including Bahraini exiles in the UK. Details of the discussion are confidential to the parties concerned and it would not be proper to disclose them. Bahrain is well aware of our international obligations concerning those who seek asylum here.