§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department has taken in respect of the imprisonment of Sally Becker in Lipjan prison; what representations he has made to the Serbian authorities on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [52729]
§ Mr. Fatchett[holding answer 28 July 1998]: Our staff have visited Ms Becker almost daily since they were informed of her arrest on 18 July. She has appointed a local lawyer who lodged an appeal against her sentence. The appeal hearing has been postponed to 3 August. Ms Becker started a hunger strike on 23 July. Our Embassy asked the prison Governor to monitor her condition carefully and to ensure she was regularly examined by the prison doctor. Our Ambassador spoke to an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 24 July to request that Ms Becker's hunger strike be handled sensitively with her health as the priority. When our Ambassador visited her on 29 July she had abandoned her hunger strike. Our continuing concern about Ms Becker's situation is being raised with the local authorities.