§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of civil rights abuses perpetrated by the Nigerian forces in Sierra Leone. [72711]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe are aware of reports of abuses by ECOMOG forces in Sierra Leone. We are concerned at such reports, and have made our views clear on this to the Government of Sierra Leone and to ECOMOG.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Sierra Leone Government about the death sentence passed on Foday Sankoh. [72730]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe Government of Sierra Leone can be in no doubt about our opposition to the death penalty in Sierra Leone and elsewhere. I raised the case of Foday Sankoh when I met Dr. Jonah, the Sierra Leone Minister of Finance, Development and Economic Planning, on 4 November, and again on 18 January. We do not believe that further executions will promote national reconciliation in Sierra Leone.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he has had with President Kabbah of Sierra Leone on the execution of 24 army officers. [72725]
§ Mr. Tony LloydI spoke personally to President Kabbah on 16 October about the military courts martial, to ask him to show clemency. I also wrote to President Kabbah on the same day to reiterate our concern. The Government of Sierra Leone can be in no doubt about our concern over the imposition of the death penalty.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the trial procedures to which the 24 executed officers were subjected in Sierra Leone. [72726]
§ Mr. Tony LloydUnited Nations and other international observers monitoring the trials process in Sierra Leone have indicated that fair trials have been held under difficult circumstances. There are concerns, however, about the lack of a proper appeals process for the military courts martial. We have taken this up with the Government of Sierra Leone; and will continue to remind them of the need to provide fair trials for all those accused.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received on destruction of property in Freetown following the ECOMOG invasion. [72735]
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§ Mr. Tony LloydECOMOG have not invaded Sierra Leone; their forces were invited by the Government of Sierra Leone to assist in the restoration of peace and security. There has been significant damage to property during the current conflict. The most serious damage was caused in January, when rebel forces entered Freetown, and indulged in wanton destruction of property. The eastern areas of the city have suffered particularly: up to eighty per cent. of property has been reported as destroyed or damaged.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the support given by Britain to the(a) Nigerian military and (b) ECOMOG forces in Sierra Leone. [72714]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe have not given any bilateral support to the Nigerian military, as they are subject to the EU Common position on Nigeria which bans military co-operation. ECOMOG in Sierra Leone comprises Nigerian, Ghanaian, Guinean and Malian contingents. We have provided it with practical support to enable it to protect the legitimate Government and people of Sierra Leone from rebel violence. We have provided £3 million worth of practical logistic support; this includes £1 million worth of vehicles and communications equipment, as well as emergency medical supplies for the people of Sierra Leone. On 19 January, the Foreign Secretary announced a further £1 million of logistic support for ECOMOG and humanitarian assistance. We have also funded the recent airlift of the Ghanaian contingent to ECOMOG.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the support given by Her Majesty's Government to President Kabbah since September 1998. [72731]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe continue to provide strong political and practical support to the democratically elected Government of Sierra Leone. Since the restoration of President Kabbah's legitimate Government in March 1998, we have committed over £20 million for rehabilitation and reconstruction following the military junta, of which £11 million has been spent. We have provided further humanitarian assistance to the people of Sierra Leone this year in response to the deterioration in the security situation.