§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the Government's policy with regard to Plan Colombia. [153935]
§ Mr. BattleI have been asked to reply.
Plan Colombia is the Colombian Government's strategy for tackling the interconnected problems of internal violence, social and economic inequality, abuse of human rights and drugs cultivation and trafficking.
Concerns are raised by some aspects of Plan Colombia, in particular the eradication of illegal crops by aerial spraying. The UK has not given any financial or other support to the plan. Instead, the UK is contributing to and fully supports assistance to Colombia through the European Union of 105 million euro over the next five years. The EU package will focus on measures to support human rights, long-term economic and social development and an end to violence.
§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to(a) the Colombian Government, (b) the USA Government and(c) international organisations about the position of the trade union movement in Colombia. [153932]
§ Mr. BattleI have been asked to reply.
We are very concerned about increasing levels of violence in Colombia, particularly that directed at trade unionists and other human rights defenders.
The British Embassy in Bogota is in regular contact with the main trade unions in Colombia, and has discussed the position of trade unionists there with both the ILO special representative, Rafael Alburquerque, and the Colombian Government. Following a meeting with Alexander Lopez of the CUT Union (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores), who has received death threats in
8WColombia, my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office wrote Colombia's Vice-President on 21 December 2000 to underline our concern that he and other trade union leaders be afforded the protection necessary to go about their lives and work safely.
The UK Government have a regular and on-going dialogue with the US Government about the human rights situation in Colombia.
The UK supported the appointment to Colombia in June 2000 of a special representative of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to report on trade union rights and the security of trade union members and to verify measures taken by the Colombian Government to protect trade unionists.
We expect the European Union to make a statement on these issues when the Commission on Human Rights meets in Geneva from 19 March to 27 April.