That this House is appalled at Ethiopia's bombardment and invasion of Eritrea; is also alarmed that in a region of desperate poverty and famine scarce resources are being used to wage a war when human needs are so desperate; is deeply concerned that one million civilians have been displaced from their homes as a result of the invasion; calls for an immediate ceasefire and for United nations supervision to ensure that peace is maintained; calls also for urgent humanitarian assistance to help the victims of the bombardment; notes that Eritrea has accepted the peace package brokered by the Organisation of African Unity and endorsed by the United Nations; and therefore urges the Foreign Secretary to convey immediately to the Government of Ethiopia and the United Nations Her Majesty's Government's grave concerns, and to use all means at his disposal to encourage Ethiopia to sign up to the Organisation of African Unity peace package and to ensure that there is a peaceful resolution of the conflict in accordance with United Nations Resolution 1297.
leave out from 'Mohammed VI' to end and add 'and therefore calls on them to allow the UN-sponsored referendum on the future of the Western Sahara to go ahead with no further delays.'.
That this House notes that the Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting Britain for the Russia 2000 Exposition; and calls on him to support a ceasefire in Chechnya, the unfettered access of independent observers and humanitarian assistance and a political dialogue to conclude a lasting peace for the people of Chechnya.
That this House is deeply concerned by Morocco's continuing armed occupation of Western Sahara; fears for the safety of Saharawi citizens following violent clashes in towns across Western Sahara in March; believes that the issuing of British military export licences, including CS gas grenades and rubber bullets, to Morocco contravenes Criterions 2 and 4 of the EU code of Conduct on Arms Exports; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to halt the issuing of all licences to Morocco until the Saharawi people have exercised their inalienable right to self-determination.
That this House regrets that one year since the murder of Northern Ireland human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson, her murderers have not been brought to justice; and joins Amnesty International and other human rights organisations in calling for an independent judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her murder.
That this House recalls that in August 1969 an Act of Free Choice (the Act) took place in the former Dutch colonial territory now known as West Papua or Papua, then under Indonesian administration, which was intended to be an act of self-determination conforming with international practice; further recalls that the Act in fact involved an unrepresentative group of 1,025 persons selected by Indonesia voting under duress to become part of Indonesia; is concerned that the Act was not free and fair and was not a proper act of self-determination in accordance with international law; notes that in December 1999 the Government of the Netherlands agreed to investigate the circumstances under which West Papua was incorporated into Indonesia; further notes that in February 2000 the Grand Assembly of West Papua, comprising representatives from across the territory, voted to reject the result of the Act because it did not conform with international practice and took place amidst intimidation and murder by the Indonesian military; calls upon Her Majesty's Government to recognise that the inalienable right of the people of West Papua to self-determination has not yet been realised in accordance with international law and to press the UN to investigate the Act with a view to carrying out a proper act of self-determination in the territory; and further calls upon Her Majesty's Government to press the Government of Indonesia to enter into meaningful dialogue with West Papuan representatives to seek peaceful and democratic solutions to their grievances.
That this House deplores the decision of the Secretary of State for the Home Department to announce his decision on the extradition of General Pinochet to the media and not the House of Commons.
That this House welcomes the recent historic debate in Israel in the Knesset on Israel's nuclear policy; notes that this was the first ever debate on the nuclear question in Israel; congratulates Issam Makhoul MK for his profound speech introducing the debate and thereby helping to remove the shroud of secrecy surrounding this important issue which marks a victory for democracy and the public's right to know about crucial nuclear policies carried out in its name; thanks Mr Makhoul for drawing attention to Mordechai Vanunu's part in bringing the facts of Israel's nuclear weapons programme to the attention of the world; notes that after nearly 14 years in prison for his brave and selfless act Vanunu is now eligible for parole; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to urge the Government of Israel to grant him immediate release from his imprisonment either through an act of clemency or parole.
That this House notes that the Eritrean Government has unconditionally signed in its entirety the Organisation of African Unity's peace plan for the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict; also notes that the Ethiopian Government has still not agreed to sign this agreement; is deeply concerned that US military intelligence is now warning of an imminent Ethiopian offensive against Eritrea before the end of February so as to 'avoid a diplomatic solution to the conflict'; and therefore urges the British Government to put all necessary diplomatic pressure on the Ethiopian Government to stop any armed attack by the Ethiopian army and to urge the Ethiopians to sign the OAU peace plan forthwith.
That this House congratulates T&GWU members, union officials and supporters for gaining a recognition agreement at Pricecheck; and recognises that in the long dispute members suffered harassment and loss of jobs but that their steadfastness has won through.
That this House reiterates its alarm at the entry of Haider's Freedom Party into the Austrian government, which has occurred despite the fact that 73 per cent. of the Austrian electorate opposed the Freedom Party; notes that Haider has praised aspects of Hitler's policies and that the Freedom Party used Goebbels' slogan of 'ueberfremdung' (overcrowding) in its election campaign; believes that the entry of the extreme racist right into mainstream European politics must not be legitimised or appeased; believes that strong action to boycott Austria is needed; congratulates the Prince of Wales and those who advised him on his decision not to attend the trade fair; calls on the Government to use its influence to prevent Austria being a venue for international sporting or cultural events and similar actions at EU level; and supports the campaign of the National Assembly against Racism for a boycott of Austrian travel and goods.
That this House believes that if a lasting peace is to be achieved in Northern Ireland, every effort must be made to put all weapons and explosives beyond use; regrets that in addition to the estimated 3,000 firearms held by paramilitary groups, 116,892 rifles, shotguns and handguns are licensed to private individuals and gun clubs in Northern Ireland; notes that virtually all of these weapons are held by members of Northern Ireland's unionist community; and urges that legislation banning private ownership of firearms in England, Wales and Scotland be extended to Northern Ireland.
leave out from '2000' to end and add 'and believes that all departments ought to reply promptly to honourable Members' correspondence and in any event take no longer than a month for a substantive response'.
That this House notes that Mumia Abu-Jamal an Afro-American radio journalist has been on death row in a Pennsylvania prison for 18 years following his conviction for killing a police officer; is gravely concerned at the violations of his civil rights and due process at his trial; notes that he was denied the right to choose his own counsel, to examine the jury, to investigate the evidence against him, and effectively to challenge the prosecution's case; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to make urgent representations to President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno to intervene to prevent the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal and to guarantee him the conditions for a fair trial.
That this House notes that on 30th January, the respected Spanish newspaper El Pais published the text of letters exchanged between the Home Office and Augusto Pinochet's lawyers from November 1999 onwards, and that these letters confirm that, despite being under no legal obligation to make such an offer, the Home Office proposed on its own initiative that Augusto Pinochet's medical details be kept secret before they received any such request from his lawyers; further notes that his lawyers informed the Home Office that their client issued them with detailed instructions about the terms under which he would submit to medical examination in November 1999 after he had allegedly suffered a major deterioration rendering him unable to prepare for trial, that, contrary to procedures adopted in previous extradition cases, the Home Office suggested General Pinochet's own British and Chilean doctors could attend his 5th January medical examination, and that the Home Office supplied him in advance with the complete list of questions they asked the independent medical team to ascertain, including queries about his ability to recall events in the 1970s; notes also that apparent loss of memory in this respect is notoriously easy to fake and that the torture offences upon which his extradition is sought occurred in the late 1980s; and therefore calls upon the Home Secretary to request that Augusto Pinochet, attend a fresh medical examination at which observers for the governments of Spain, France, Belgium and Switzerland will be allowed to be present.
That this House congratulates Ricardo Lagos on his election as President of Chile and notes that the pro-Pinochet candidate was defeated; and further notes that the 1990 coalition granted immunity to General Pinochet from prosecution for crimes commited between 1973 and 1990 by his appointment as a Senator for Life.
That this House is deeply concerned that the planned July 2000 United Nations referendum enabling the Saharawi people to exercise their right to self-determination may be postponed again due to the problem posed by over 70,000 appeals presented by Morocco; believes that this could result in the referendum being delayed beyond the United Nations deadline; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to ensure that the parties in the conflict strictly abide by the terms of the signed Houston and UN Appeals agreements.
That this House calls upon the Home Secretary to release all information concerning the medical condition of General Pinochet in the interests of justice.