Colombia (Hansard, 8 June 1998)

§ Mr. Fitzpatrick
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Colombian Government regarding the assassination of the human rights lawyer, Eduardo Umana Mendoza, on 18 April 1998; [44149]
(2) what representations he has made to the Colombian Government regarding the assassination of the former leader of the Communist Party, Maria Arrango Fonnegra, on 16 April. [44150]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
The British Ambassador, representing the EU presidency, made representations to the Colombian Government on 29 April unreservedly condemning the murders of the human rights defenders Eduardo Umana and Maria Arrango.

§ Mr. Fitzpatrick
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the United Kingdom is taking to protect human rights workers in Colombia. [44151]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
At a political level, we raise the issue of the safety of human rights workers with the Colombian Government whenever the opportunity arises. At a practical level, officials at the British Embassy in Bogota have a regular dialogue with human rights NGOs, and the Ambassador and his Deputy carry out high-profile visits to areas of conflict to demonstrate their support for the work of human rights workers. These visits, in particular, are highly valued by NGOs. The UK and EU partners are also pressing the Colombian Government to make early and practical use of the US$1.2 million they have earmarked for the protection of human rights workers.

§ Mr. Fitzpatrick
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the links between sections of the Colombian Armed Forces and the paramilitary groups who are responsible for human rights violations in Colombia. [44148]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
We have received numerous reports of collaboration between Colombian paramilitary groups and certain units of the Armed forces at local level. The Colombian Government have recently announced the disbanding of a particular Army Unit thought to have been involved in such collaboration.