Colombia (Hansard, 13 February 2002)

§ Harry Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the activities of the paramilitary group Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia in relation to human rights abuses in Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [34892]

§ Mr. MacShane
We receive regular reports from the British embassy in Bogota, the Colombian Government, NGOs and others about the murderous activities of the so-called Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC). The AUC commits a large proportion of the human rights abuses in Colombia.
We continue to urge the Colombian Government to strengthen their efforts to combat paramilitaries, including the AUC, and to take concrete action to dismantle such groups by arresting, prosecuting and punishing those involved. I raised this problem with the Colombian Government during a visit to Colombia last October.

§ Harry Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the activities of Dyncorp in recruiting mercenaries for action in Colombia in relation to the Government's policy with regard to that country; and if he will make a statement. [34890]
435W

§ Mr. MacShane
We have made no assessment of the activities in Colombia of Dyncorp, which is a privately owned US company. Central to our policy towards Colombia is the promotion and protection of human rights, and support for the peace process instigated by President Andres Pastrana.

§ Harry Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what involvement British embassy officials in Bogota have in protecting and ensuring the safety of UK citizens who are(a) in the Peace Brigades International in Colombia and (b) prepared to try to shield Colombian citizens from violence; and if he will make a statement. [34891]

§ Mr. MacShane
As I made clear in my written answer on 23 January 2002,Official Report, column 885W, we strongly support the activities of human rights workers in Colombia, including representatives of Peace Brigades International (PBI). I met a number of human rights defenders, including PBI, during my visit to Colombia last October.
PBI routinely inform the British embassy in Bogota of their travel and accompanying plans, which the embassy checks against the information available to them to determine if an exceptional risk is involved. Should the embassy have such information they would advise PBI not to travel to that location. Embassy staff have given PBI their personal mobile telephone numbers and are thus available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The embassy has intervened to assist PBI in gaining access to key Colombian officials.
The Colombian Government have a protection programme for their nationals who are at severe threat from illegal armed groups. The Colombian Government provide bodyguards, protected vehicles and equipment to protect the homes and offices of human rights workers, and trade union leaders.