HC Deb 23 June 2004 vol 422 c1451W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent deaths of two Saharawis in Moroccan custody in Laayoune and Guelmim. [179323]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The Moroccan authorities are looking into both of these cases. In the Guelmim case, police officers have been arrested and are likely to face charges. In the Laayoune case, the Moroccan Ministry of Justice is considering its next steps following a post mortem examination and representations from the family of the deceased. Moroccan NGOs have also responded and are following the cases, working constructively with the authorities and the families. My officials will continue to follow developments.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent Amnesty International Report on human rights abuses in Western Sahara and Morocco. [179324]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Ministers and officials raise human rights concerns with the Moroccan authorities as appropriate. We raised, for example, both bilaterally and in co-ordination with EU partners, the case of Ali Lmrabet with the relevant authorities.

We welcome Amnesty's positive view of the advances in human rights in Morocco during the period of the report, especially with regard to women's rights under the new Personal Status Code and the establishment of a Justice and Reconciliation Commission.

With regard to the Western Sahara dispute, we have encouraged all parties to co-operate on those missing in the conflict and have urged the Polisario to release the 514 remaining prisoners of war in their custody without delay.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make urgent representations to the Government of Spain on its new peace treaty plan, Madrid II, to try to settle the Western Sahara issue, with specific reference to the concerns expressed by(a) the Polisario Front and (b) the Saharawis people. [179325]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

We have regular discussions with the Spanish Government on the question of Western Sahara. These have focussed on ensuring that the UN process leads to a fair and lasting solution to this dispute. There are no plans to make representations.