§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the extension by the President of Sudan of the state of emergency by another year. [145264]
§ Mr. HainWe took careful note of statements by Sudanese officials when the state of emergency was imposed in December 1999 to the effect that it was not intended to affect individual liberties, but was necessary to allow Government business to proceed in the absence of a National Assembly. A new National Assembly was elected in December and will shortly hold its opening session. We look to the Government of Sudan, in line with their earlier statements, to lift the state of emergency as soon as possible thereafter.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the return of Ethiopian Oromo refugees from Sudan. [145364]
§ Mr. HainAccording to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, over 13,000 Ethiopian refugees in Sudan have volunteered for repatriation. More than 4,000 of these were expected to arrive in Ethiopia in early January.