Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on (a) the adoption of a new global army plan and defence strategy, (b) other reforms in the security sector and (c) legislation creating specialised mixed chambers.
Answered by Lord Swire
Efforts to stabilise the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) require a reformed army, police and justice sector that can provide effective security across the whole country and an end to the culture of impunity. It is crucial that the security sector operates under democratic control and follows the rule of law, and it and the justice system are responsive to the needs of the Congolese people. We are committed to engaging closely with the new Government of National Unity appointed by President Kabila in December 2014 on national reforms. The DRC made a commitment to deepen security sector reform as part of the regional agreement, the Peace, Stability and Cooperation Framework, signed in Addis Ababa in 2013. Senior officials at the British Embassy in Kinshasa regularly meet with DRC Government Ministers and officials to encourage further steps to implement the reforms necessary for a more effective, accountable and responsive security sector with greater number of perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses brought to justice.Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the government of Democratic Republic of Congo on the arrest and incommunicado detention of 12 activists after protests in January 2015 against revision of the electoral law.
Answered by Lord Swire
During the recent period of unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) officials at our Embassy in Kinshasa were in regular contact with the DRC authorities, and urged all parties to exercise calm and restraint. Officials also highlighted the importance of allowing those who wished to protest peacefully against the proposed electoral reform bill to be allowed to do so. This was echoed in an Foreign and Commonwealth Office statement https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fco-expresses-concern-over-violence-in-drc issued on 19 January.
On 25 January a revised electoral law was passed, and on 26 January an FCO statement https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-welcomes-new-electoral-law-and-cessation-of-violence-in-drc welcomed the revised electoral law, which sought to address some of the protestors’ concerns. We are pleased that calls for an end to violence were heeded but are concerned that - according to UN reports – as many as 300 people remain in detention following the demonstrations, including some who have not had access to a lawyer. Of those currently being held, the UN estimates that at least 11 are believed to be in ‘incommunicado’ detention, including Christopher Ngoyi.
Officials continue to raise the ongoing detention of protestors at the highest level. On 11 February, EU Head of Mission in Kinshasa issued a joint statement expressing concern at arrests and arbitrary detention of political activists by the security services. Those imprisoned for peacefully exercising their right to free speech must be released without delay.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will discuss with the government of Ethiopia the possible return of Mr Tsige to its jurisdiction since 2004.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
It is longstanding policy and practice to neither confirm nor deny whether an extradition request has been made or received, nor whether discussions have taken place. We continue to press the Ethiopian authorities for regular consular access.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
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 effect of the start of the military operations against the Democratic Republic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda and the planned closures of internally-displaced persons camps in North Kivu province on the humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Answered by Lord Swire
On 30 January the government of the DRC announced that military action had begun against the FDLR, but it is our assessment that comprehensive operations are yet to fully commence. Officials at the British Embassy in Kinshasa have reiterated to the government of the DRC that international expectations remain high: the threat posed by the FDLR to civilians and to the security and stability of the region must be tackled.
We are also clear that the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) must ensure efforts to minimise the impact on civilians remain forefront in planning for military operations against armed groups. We are working closely with the humanitarian community and MONUSCO to this end. This includes liaising with, and providing financial support for, organisations working up contingency plans for any potential humanitarian impact.
We are also actively engaged with humanitarian organisations and the DRC government to ensure that any approach to the IDP camps around Goma complies with humanitarian law and the Kampala Convention.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations his Department has made to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the planned closures of the internally-displaced persons camps in North Kivu province and the start of military operations against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda.
Answered by Lord Swire
On 30 January the government of the DRC announced that military action had begun against the FDLR, but it is our assessment that comprehensive operations are yet to fully commence. Officials at the British Embassy in Kinshasa have reiterated to the government of the DRC that international expectations remain high: the threat posed by the FDLR to civilians and to the security and stability of the region must be tackled. We are also clear that the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) must ensure efforts to minimise the impact on civilians remain forefront in planning for military operations against armed groups. We are working closely with the humanitarian community and MONUSCO to this end. This includes liaising with, and providing financial support for, organisations working up contingency plans for any potential humanitarian impact. We are also actively engaged with humanitarian organisations and the DRC government to ensure that any approach to the IDP camps around Goma complies with humanitarian law and the Kampala Convention.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the government of Bahrain on recent decisions to deprive people in that country of their nationality without due process; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The British Ambassador to Bahrain has raised the revocation of citizenship of 72 Bahraini nationals at Ministerial level with the Government of Bahrain on 4 February. All of the individuals affected have the right to appeal. The British Embassy in Bahrain will continue to follow these cases closely.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when and for what reasons permission was given to representatives of the Zoological Society of London to travel to the Chagos Islands.
Answered by Lord Swire
On 14 October 2014, the Administration of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) granted permission for a consortium of scientists, led by representatives of the Zoological Society of London, to undertake an expedition to BIOT (which includes the Chagos Archipelago) in January 2015. The purpose of this expedition, now underway, is to conduct observations on the pelagic ecology within BIOT’s marine protected area. The BIOT Administration is committed to promoting research that increases scientific understanding and informs global conservation efforts, and has identified the documentation of pelagic ecosystems as a priority.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps are being taken to ensure that the Chagossians are taken to the Chagos Islands as soon as possible, since the cancellation by his Department of their scheduled annual trip in November 2014.
Answered by Lord Swire
We are committed to the Chagossians visiting the British Indian Ocean Territory in April 2015. BIOT Administration officials judge that this is the earliest time that safety concerns caused by mechanical problems on board the BIOT Administration's vessel will be satisfactorily addressed, and the logistics of such a complex trip completed. Additionally, the community leaders are working with us to reallocate the funds set aside for the postponed 2014 visit to community projects.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent meetings Ministers and officials in his Department have held with human rights organisations in Bahrain to discuss the detention of human rights activists in that country.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in Bahrain frequently meet members from Bahraini human rights organisations to discuss the human rights situation there. Our engagement is constructive and focussed on supporting human rights and political reform. Most recently, in November, our Embassy officials were in contact with the Bahrain Human Rights Society regarding the detention of a number of protesters who were charged with disrupting the elections process, joining an illegal group, and calling for the overthrow of the government.
In December, I chaired the fourth UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group where we discussed progress on Bahrain reform agenda. The UK is actively engaged on Bahrain’s human rights and political reform agenda, and is providing a package of technical assistance with a focus on strengthening human rights and rule of law.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the implementation of the Rome statute in that country and training of its armed forces in human rights observance.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I have had no discussions with my counterpart in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) about the implementation of the Rome statue in the DRC. On 11 June 2014 the then Minister for Africa discussed with the DRC’s representative to the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict Summit (the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs) the importance of ensuring there is no impunity for those responsible for human rights abuses.
The DRC has not yet adopted the necessary legislation to incorporate the Rome Statute into domestic law. We urge it to do so and look forward to engaging the newly appointed Justice Minister on this and other related issues. Those responsible for abuses must be held to account, and law reform remains necessary to improving victims’ access to justice. We also support training of the Congolese Army in human rights and the tackling of sexual violence, through our contributions to EU Security Sector Reform Mission (EUSEC), the EU’s mission to the DRC focused on Security Sector Reform (SSR). This is helping to change attitudes and ways of operating, although there is still a long way to go.