§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent trends in human rights violations in Colombia; and what representations he has made to the Colombian Government on this issue. [43948]
§ Mr. Fatchett[holding answer 1 June 1998]: The recent upwards trend in violence in Colombia is of serious concern, as is the increasing number of attacks on human rights workers. We take every opportunity to express our concerns to the Colombian Government. Most recently, as EU Presidency, we made a demarche to the Colombian Government following the murders of two more human rights workers at the end of April. The new British Ambassador will take advantage of his introductory calls to raise again our human rights concerns with the Colombian Government.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on action being taken to implement the arrest warrants against Fidel and Carlos Castano Gil, in respect of the assassinations of two CINEP human rights workers on 19 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [43973]
§ Mr. FatchettWe have received no representations with regard to the arrest warrants issued against Fidel and Carlos Castano Gil for their part in the murders of the CINEP human rights researchers. Britain, both as EU Presidency and bilaterally, has strongly urged the Colombian Government to pursue the arrest of these people with the utmost vigour.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the search of the Justice and Peace Office in Bogota on 13 May by the Colombian Army's Special Anti-Guerrilla Forces. [43946]
§ Mr. Fatchett[holding answer 1 June 1998]: We understand that the search of the offices of the human rights NGO, Justicia y Paz, was carried out under the supervision of the Colombian Fiscalia, the Prosecution Service. A local NGO has confirmed that the paperwork 242W for the search was in order and that the Fiscalia, a civilian body, stopped the search from progressing to eight other organisations named on the warrant. Officials at the British Embassy in Bogota are in close touch with a number of local NGOs about this issue.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been taken by the Colombian Government to implement the recommendations made in the report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the 54 Session of the UNCHR. [43947]
§ Mr. Fatchett[holding answer 1 June 1998]: The Colombian Government have taken a number of steps in pursuit of objectives outlined in the recommendations of the UNCHR 54th Session. These include measures to further the peace process, such as authorising a number of Departmental Governors to negotiate regional peace agreements with guerrillas. The armed forces Commander has sent written and verbal instructions to regional commanders to desist from any form of cooperation with paramilitary groups—another recommendation by the UNCHR. The 20th Intelligence Brigade, subject of numerous allegations of human rights violations, has also been disbanded. However, a number of other recommendations made by the High Commissioner for Human Rights are unlikely to be addressed until the new Colombian Government are installed in August. In the meantime, we shall continue to monitor the situation through our Embassy in Bogota and by other means.