Zimbabwe: House of Commons written answers Monday 28 April 2003

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Government of Zimbabwe regarding the detention of members of the Movement for Democratic Change; and if he will make a statement; [109168]

(2) what information he has collated on the number of Members of Parliament and other members of the Movement for Democratic Change currently detained by the police or other government security forces in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [109167]

Mr. Rammell: Since the nationwide stayaway on 18 and 19 March, over 600 opposition supporters have been arrested. Many have been beaten and tortured. Recent arrests include those of Gibson Sibanda, Parliamentary Leader of the MDC; Paul Themba Nyathi, the party's spokesman; Fidelis Mhashu, the Shadow Education Minister; Giles Mutsekwa, Shadow Defence Minister and numerous MDC MPs. The trial of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai; Secretary General Welshman Ncube; and Agriculture Spokesman Renton Gasela also continues.

The EU has condemned the violence and sponsored a resolution on Zimbabwe at the UN Commission on Human Rights.

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has collated on state-sponsored torture in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [109169]

Mr. Rammell: We receive many credible reports from trustworthy sources, including Amnesty International, the Zimbabwean NGO Human Rights Forum, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and Physicians for Human Rights, testifying to the government of Zimbabwe's use of torture. Evidence suggests that torture is often used with the tacit or explicit approval of the ruling party and agents of the state, including the police force, army and intelligence services.
We have condemned ZANU (PF) for its use of torture and have called on the Government of Zimbabwe to ratify the UN Convention on Torture.

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Cuba regarding the recent arrest of pro-democracy and human rights activists; and if he will make a statement. [109165]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: My hon. Friend the Member for Harlow and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Rammell) summoned the Cuban Ambassador to register concern following the recent arrests of dissidents in Cuba. EU partners issued a Statement calling for immediate release of all the prisoners. We urge the Cuban Government to respect international human rights.

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