§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Moroccan authorities on the jailed Saharani human rights activist Ali Salem Tamek. [123849]
§ Mr. Rammell[holding answer 7 July 2003]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the then Under-Secretary of State on 7 May 2003. Officials and Ministers regularly call upon the parties to the Western Sahara dispute to take action on human rights issues.
In April this year officials brought our concerns over the trial, sentencing and prison conditions of Ali Salem Tamek to the attention of the Moroccan authorities in Laayoune and Rabat. We continue to monitor the situation closely, and will take action with the appropriate authorities where necessary.
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§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the impact on the Saharawi people of changed restrictions on their civil rights by the Moroccan authorities. [123850]
§ Mr. Rammell[holding answer 7 July 2003]: We continue to monitor the situation in Western Sahara and raise specific cases with the relevant authorities where appropriate.