Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he plans to make to his Sudanese counterpart on the cases of (a) Mohamed Esmat, (b) Ismael Jalab and (c) Mubarak Ardol.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The British Government condemns the arrest and detention of Mohamed Esmat, Ismael Jalab and Mubarak Ardol by the Sudanese security forces. We understand all have now been released. Violence must not be used, including against opponents. Sudanese people should not be faced with the threat of arbitrary detention or deportation. We consistently made clear to the former Government of Sudan our expectation that all detainees should be treated in accordance with international standards; we continue to call upon the Sudanese authorities to do so. On 6 June, I summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express the grave concerns of the United Kingdom at the use of violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities. Our Embassy in Khartoum continues to publicly and directly call on members of the Transitional Military Council to take the steps needed to improve the situation in Sudan, including the release of all political prisoners. We also engage regularly with civil society groups on the issue of detainee treatment.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he plans to take with the US Administration and the Government of Norway to help tackle recent violence in Khartoum.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK, alongside Troika partners Norway and the USA made clear on 4 June that we condemn the violent attacks by Sudanese security forces against peaceful protestors in Sudan last week, which left many civilians dead or injured. The UK calls for the human rights of all Sudanese people to be respected, the resumption of the political process with the protestors and the opposition, and an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led government, as demanded by the Sudanese people, in a swift, orderly and peaceful manner.
The UK also continues to promote comprehensive peace negotiations through our role in the Troika. Alongside the US and Norway we engage regularly with the African Union (AU) building on long standing support to the AU's mediation efforts to encourage peace and security in Sudan.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan on recent trends in the level of violence in that country; and what recent discussions he has had with his Sudanese counterparts to help the development of democracy in that country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK condemns the recent violence in Sudan which resulted in the killing and injuring of many peaceful civilian protestors. We made this clear in the E8 statement issued following the Sudan briefing at the UN Security Council and alongside Troika partners (US, Norway and UK) in our statement of 4 June. The following day I summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to set out the grave concerns of the United Kingdom at the use of violence by the Sudanese authorities against civilians this week.
We have stressed to the Sudanese authorities the need for an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led government, followed by a process of reform leading to eventual free and fair elections, as demanded by the people of Sudan. The UK has consistently called for a transition to a political system that is inclusive, supported by a sound constitutional basis that is respectful of human rights and the rule of law and that ensures accountability for crimes committed. Our Ambassador to Khartoum has met with the Transitional Military Council , opposition members and protestors and continues to deliver these messages.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his officials have had meetings with the former Sudanese Intelligence Chief Salah Gosh since 1 May 2019.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
No British Minister or official has had meetings with Salah Gosh since he was removed from his role as head of Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) on 13 April 2019.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he will make to his Sudanese counterpart to ensure the safety of Yassir Arman of SPLM-N and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson of the Declaration for Freedom and Change.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK is engaging with the Transitional Military Council (TMC) and with the a range of opposition groups and the protest movement in Sudan. We are calling for the legitimate demands of Sudanese people to be respected and for power to be handed over to civilian leadership. Violence must not be used. This message has been firmly delivered in Sudan by our Ambassador to the Deputy Head of the TMC. The UK, alongside Troika partners Norway and the US, has called for all sides to engage in an inclusive dialogue, that leads to a swift, orderly and peaceful transition to civilian rule. On 29 May our Ambassador delivered this message to Yassir Arman of SPLM-N and encouraged all armed movements to return to Sudan and take part in the talks to agree a civilian-led transition and achieve peace. We will continue to engage with all sides to support a settlement that works for all Sudanese people.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his South Sudanese counterpart on the (a) kidnapping and subsequent death of opposition member Aggrey Idri and human rights lawyer Doug Samuel Luak and (b) need to bring the perpetrators of those crimes to justice.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The British Government is deeply disturbed by the UN Panel of Expert's findings that Dong Samuel Luak and Aggrey Idri were abducted from Kenya and executed in South Sudan by the South Sudanese national security service in 2017. We call on the South Sudanese Government to respond to these findings, and ensure that its defence and security forces are subject to the rule of law, to prevent future disappearances.
The disappearance of these individuals and concerns for their safety have been raised by the British Ambassador, and by the UK Special Envoy for South Sudan with senior members of the South Sudanese Government on a number of occasions. The case has also been raised in Nairobi with the Kenyan authorities. This is part of a troubling pattern of harassment and intimidation of civic actors by South Sudanese authorities. The British Government regularly calls for the release of all political prisoners in accordance with the 12 September peace agreement. We also led efforts to renew the mandate of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan in March, and support the renewal of the Panel of Experts mandate due at the end of May. The work of these UN bodies is critical to exposing the perpetrators of human rights violations in South Sudan.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the level of detentions of political activists in South Sudan; and what representations he has made to his South Sudanese counterparts on those detentions.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The British Government believes that the number of political detainees in South Sudan remains high, despite a commitment to release all political detainees as part of the 12 September peace agreement. However, in the absence of information from the South Sudanese authorities, it is not possible to determine precise figures.
We regularly press the Government of South Sudan for the release of all political prisoners in accordance with its commitments. An end to restrictions on freedom of expression is vital if South Sudan is to realise the opportunity of peace the September agreement offers. The Government of South Sudan's failure to comply with this provision of the agreement undermines confidence in their commitment to achieving a meaningful peace. In order to ensure transparency and respect for human rights, the South Sudanese authorities should also allow access to all detention facilities, including those of the national security service and military intelligence.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of child soldiers actively deployed in the conflict in South Sudan.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The British Government is deeply concerned by the continued and widespread recruitment and use of children by all parties to the conflict in South Sudan. It is not possible to accurately determine the number of children who have been recruited and used as child soldiers, whether as fighters, or in other positions including, sadly, child “brides” or sex slaves. However, the British Government continues to exert pressure on all parties to the conflict in South Sudan to release children in their ranks, to stop recruiting, and to ensure an end to all violations against children.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations at the appeal hearing in the case of Hamed bin Haydara, a Yemeni member of the Baha’i faith sentenced to death by a Houthi court in Sana’a in January 2018, scheduled for 16 June; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
We strongly condemn Mr bin Haydara's death sentence and the continued persecution of Baha'is in Yemen for their religious beliefs. We continue to follow the treatment of the Baha’is in Yemen closely, including through meeting their representatives in the UK and lobbying the relevant authorities. We continue to call on the parties to the conflict to respect the human rights of all Yemenis.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Houthi regime in Yemen on the use of the death penalty; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, including Yemen. We regularly raise human rights concerns at the highest levels with the Houthi regime.