§ Mr. McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent detention of civilians by the Government in The Gambia; and what representations have been made by his Department to the Government in The Gambia about these detentions. [47305]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe are concerned at the recent detention of civilians by the government of The Gambia. The detainees were released on bail by a High Court ruling on 8 June 1998.
Our High Commission in Banjul has made a number of representations to the government of The Gambia about these detentions. On 9 June our High Commissioner undertook a demarche on behalf of the European Union expressing concern at recent events and seeking assurances that the government remain committed to the constitution.
§ Mr. McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to launch an investigation into human rights abuses in The Gambia since 22 July 1994. [47303]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe, together with our European Union partners and the Commonwealth, closely monitor human rights in The Gambia, and regularly bring any concerns to the attention of the Government of The530W Gambia. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group was set up in November 1995 and has had The Gambia and its human rights record on its agenda ever since.
§ Mr. McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to promote democratic practices in The Gambia, with particular reference to reversing the ban on the former main political parties and political personalities promulgated in Decree No. 89 of 1996. [47306]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe Gambia has been considered by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) at each of the group's meetings since its inception in Auckland in 1995. At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 1997, Heads of Government agreed that CMAG should continue to monitor the situation in The Gambia with a view to promoting full compliance with the Harare principles. At their last meeting on 2–3 March CMAG asked the Commonwealth Secretary General to monitor the situation in The Gambia and to keep CMAG informed.
CMAG has repeatedly urged the Government of The Gambia to remove Decree 89 and demonstrate its stated commitment to human rights and rule of law.
§ Mr. McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he or his officials have had with(a) the OAU and (b) the Commonwealth on human rights abuses in The Gambia. [47304]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe have had no discussions with the OAU on human rights abuses in The Gambia.
We have raised concerns about human rights in The Gambia at each of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group's meetings since its inception in Auckland in 1995.