Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress he has made in the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue on protecting freedom of speech in Sudan.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
Freedom of speech is a core part of the human rights element of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue. We continue to make clear to the Government of Sudan that it is crucial that the Sudanese people should be allowed to exercise their right to freedom of expression, however little overall improvement has yet been made on this issue. Both I and officials at the UK Embassy in Khartoum continue to raise these concerns with the Government of Sudan at the highest level.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what date officials in his Department last discussed the case of Peter Biar Ajak with the South Sudanese Government.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
Our Ambassador to South Sudan most recently discussed Mr Ajak’s case with the South Sudanese Government on 5 October. Our Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan raised the release of political prisoners with the Government of South Sudan on 9 October.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
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 Sudanese counterpart on proposals by President Bashir to amend the Sudanese constitution to allow him to stand for election in 2020; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
During my visit to Khartoum in August, I urged the Government of Sudan to create a political environment conducive to freedom of expression and political affiliation. I discussed the 2020 elections in this context with First Vice President Bakri Hassan Saleh. During his visit to Sudan in September, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon raised the importance of a stable and pluralistic political environment in ensuring that the 2020 elections are free, fair and inclusive
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations has he made to the Secretary General of the Commonwealth on the relationship between the Commonwealth's core values on human rights and the rule of law and the creation by Bangladesh of a special court to try the opposition leader of that country.
Answered by Mark Field
I am clear that the UK wants to see a free, fair and pluralistic general election in Bangladesh, and we have consistently encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. I made these points to senior members of the Government of Bangladesh, including State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, and members of the opposition Bangladesh National Party during my visit to Bangladesh from 29 June to 1 July this year. The Foreign Secretary made these points to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met on 24 September at the UN General Assembley in New York.
We keep in close touch with the Commonwealth, including the Secretary General, on our shared desire to see a free, fair, and pluralistic general election Bangladesh. All Commonwealth members, including Bangladesh, reaffirmed their support for core Commonwealth values during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April this year, and the UK remains a proud supporter of these values.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to encourage the Government of Bangladesh to hold a free and fair general election later this year.
Answered by Mark Field
I am clear that the UK wants to see a free, fair and pluralistic general election in Bangladesh, and we have consistently encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. I made these points to senior members of the Government of Bangladesh, including State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, and members of the opposition Bangladesh National Party during my visit to Bangladesh from 29 June to 1 July this year. The Foreign Secretary made these points to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met on 24 September at the UN General Assembley in New York.
We keep in close touch with the Commonwealth, including the Secretary General, on our shared desire to see a free, fair, and pluralistic general election Bangladesh. All Commonwealth members, including Bangladesh, reaffirmed their support for core Commonwealth values during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April this year, and the UK remains a proud supporter of these values.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Government of Bangladesh on the decision to create a special court within the prison in which the Bangladesh Opposition Leader, Khaleda Zia, is currently held.
Answered by Mark Field
I am clear that the UK wants to see a free, fair and pluralistic general election in Bangladesh, and we have consistently encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. I made these points to senior members of the Government of Bangladesh, including State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, and members of the opposition Bangladesh National Party during my visit to Bangladesh from 29 June to 1 July this year. The Foreign Secretary made these points to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met on 24 September at the UN General Assembley in New York.
We keep in close touch with the Commonwealth, including the Secretary General, on our shared desire to see a free, fair, and pluralistic general election Bangladesh. All Commonwealth members, including Bangladesh, reaffirmed their support for core Commonwealth values during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April this year, and the UK remains a proud supporter of these values.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government has made an assessment of the validity of claims in the media that the Bangladesh Government's war on drugs may be being used to target political opponents.
Answered by Mark Field
Political figures from both major parties – the incumbent Awami League, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party – have been caught up in the recent escalation of Government of Bangladesh's war on drugs. At the present time, we see no clear pattern that would indicate the deliberate targeting of political opponents by the government in the war on drugs. I recognise the social and economic costs of illegal drug trafficking for Bangladesh and the need for effective policing to tackle this. But I remain concerned by the number of deaths in these operations. I tweeted on 6 June, I expect Bangladesh to uphold due legal process and safeguards on the use of force. I made this clear in person to Bangladeshi counterparts when in Dhaka on 1 July