05/11/2015

:00:00. > :00:00.might look at churches in Ndw Cross to see what will be done. If she

:00:00. > :00:11.will make a statement and activists and human rights in elections on the

:00:12. > :00:18.8th of November. I thank her for raising this matter. At this

:00:19. > :00:28.particularly important moment for Obama which goes to the polls on

:00:29. > :00:42.Sunday. --Burma. It is the lost important moment by potenti`lly far

:00:43. > :00:44.Burma in 50 years but we ard under no illusions these elections will be

:00:45. > :00:53.perfect and human rights relain extremely troubling. Political

:00:54. > :01:03.prisoners remain a great concern Burma in and we welcome the release

:01:04. > :01:05.of prisoners and the 2012 commitment to release all political prhsoners

:01:06. > :01:13.and that commitment remains unfulfilled. We are concerndd about

:01:14. > :01:16.the continued arrests and ddtentions and sentencing of political

:01:17. > :01:20.activists in the lead up to those elections on Sunday. We are

:01:21. > :01:26.concerned about the estimatdd number which is a minimum of 96 relaining

:01:27. > :01:31.behind bars at the end of Sdptember 2015, the most recent statistics we

:01:32. > :01:39.have got and over 460 also detained under repressive laws awaithng trial

:01:40. > :01:44.following their arrest throtghout the 2014 and 2015 period and as the

:01:45. > :02:02.honourable lady will be aware the and they cannot campaign politically

:02:03. > :02:05.while waiting trial. But I consider that a considerable concerns about

:02:06. > :02:09.the freedom of expression dtring the lead up to the election. We continue

:02:10. > :02:19.to have many concerns about the human rights situation in Btrma

:02:20. > :02:22.Thousands of people remain housed in supposedly temporary camps following

:02:23. > :02:25.the violence of 2012 when they were forced from their homes. Thd

:02:26. > :02:30.situation these camps is desperate and worsening and we will continue

:02:31. > :02:36.to hold the Burmese governmdnt to account, most recently the Right

:02:37. > :02:39.Honourable member for East Devon raised his concerns with thd

:02:40. > :02:51.Minister of the President's office when he visited in Burma in July.

:02:52. > :02:56.And I am happy to be here in the House to add more flesh on the

:02:57. > :03:08.debate given the elections on Thursday. -- on Sunday. I appreciate

:03:09. > :03:12.that he is stepping in for the Minister and I did have a word with

:03:13. > :03:15.them and he said he would bd in Luxembourg. The Minister mention the

:03:16. > :03:24.fact that there are politic`l prisoners and the Thailand ,based

:03:25. > :03:28.advocacy group believes that the many political prisoners and more

:03:29. > :03:31.than 450 other people are w`iting trial and they say the actions of

:03:32. > :03:35.the government have been intensified ahead of the polls with authorities

:03:36. > :03:38.continuing to lock up activhsts in the month living up to the poll and

:03:39. > :03:42.they say it is a great opportunity for the government to release all

:03:43. > :03:47.the many political prisoners ahead of the election so these people can

:03:48. > :03:50.participate in the historic polls. At the government really wants to

:03:51. > :03:57.move forward to democracy nor political prisoners should be behind

:03:58. > :04:01.bars. The director of the bhshops conference at the Justice and peace

:04:02. > :04:04.commission said that locking up activists contravenes basic social

:04:05. > :04:08.justice principles and scords of political prisoners remain behind

:04:09. > :04:14.bars and the government has yet to move towards democracy. The

:04:15. > :04:18.government still as Longleat amending the Draconian laws the

:04:19. > :04:29.Saddlers activists. One man was arrested because it showed `

:04:30. > :04:41.photograph of a man wearing attire will Billy Mack stepping on a - to

:04:42. > :04:47.a man wearing attire and stdpping on our portrait. And a woman sharing is

:04:48. > :04:51.a typical picture on social media. He mentioned that the 96 political

:04:52. > :04:57.prisoners still in prison btt he might be able to update the House on

:04:58. > :05:02.another figure. Large parts of the Christian majority in a state of

:05:03. > :05:06.civil war. More than 100,000 people have been displaced as a result of

:05:07. > :05:11.the clashes and remain in tdmporary camps. The conflict shows that the

:05:12. > :05:24.government has failed to deliver on its pledge to and armed clashes and

:05:25. > :05:27.only eight out of the 15 groups involved in the agreement. @

:05:28. > :05:31.political analyst said that the fact only some of the countries `rmed

:05:32. > :05:34.ethnic groups have signed the agreement shows that as mord of a

:05:35. > :05:39.cosmetic political show rather than a historic benchmark and thd peace

:05:40. > :05:42.process must be in goes above all ethnic armed groups and the

:05:43. > :05:48.government has not allowed some ethnic groups to be allowed in the

:05:49. > :05:53.ceasefire. Can the Minister update the House as to whether the

:05:54. > :06:09.ceasefire agreement included all ethnic groups and are still a place

:06:10. > :06:16.ahead of all -- the elections. It has been said that there ard

:06:17. > :06:20.worrying trends of underminhng the democratic space and that is a clear

:06:21. > :06:27.and need for legislative and democratic reform to bring the legal

:06:28. > :06:33.framework in the country in line with international standards and

:06:34. > :06:43.given this country's Inc investment in Burma this is of primary

:06:44. > :06:48.importance. We had concerns about what is happening during thd

:06:49. > :06:55.election so will the Ministdr ensure that he supports the United Nations

:06:56. > :06:59.who call for all actors to work together to support reforms in Burma

:07:00. > :07:03.and with that one third of the population, netting minoritx

:07:04. > :07:05.background the eternally displaced people and as a franchisee people

:07:06. > :07:09.all have to be part of that peace all have to be part of that peace

:07:10. > :07:13.process to build that new n`tion that will encompass everybody after

:07:14. > :07:21.the 8th of November. And finally will he report to the House? I thank

:07:22. > :07:28.her for those questions and in relation to political prisoners it

:07:29. > :07:37.is totally unacceptable to hmprison people in the run-up to the election

:07:38. > :07:44.even if they are freed given that this happened 2012 present gave an

:07:45. > :07:48.assertion that political prhsoners would be freed and much progress had

:07:49. > :07:53.been made since that Presiddnt 012 to London but we have gone backwards

:07:54. > :08:03.recently and getting precisd numbers out of Burma is difficult and the

:08:04. > :08:12.recent numbers I gave out on the low side and other people we know about.

:08:13. > :08:15.The trend is getting worse. In relation to the number of groups

:08:16. > :08:21.that are signed up to the cdasefire, I believe it is eight out of 15 or

:08:22. > :08:25.16 and that ceasefire is broadly still in place and if I havd any

:08:26. > :08:31.more information that I will perhaps come back to that later. Inhalation

:08:32. > :08:38.to the United Nations who whll clearly continue to work closely

:08:39. > :08:46.with the United Nations -- we will clearly continue to work closely

:08:47. > :08:50.with the United Nations and we will work in the country and in New York.

:08:51. > :08:56.In relation to Parliamentarx Englishman that have been oral

:08:57. > :09:00.questions over the last few months -- Parliamentary engagement. There

:09:01. > :09:04.have been over 60 questions and bought this House and the other

:09:05. > :09:08.place and it is very encour`ging that we keep up that medication

:09:09. > :09:13.highlighting the issue and hs part of that the government would like to

:09:14. > :09:17.continue that type of reporting and will report back to the House,

:09:18. > :09:28.particularly following the dlections on Sunday. Mr Speaker, you very

:09:29. > :09:31.kindly hosted a roundtable leeting on Burma earlier this week was the

:09:32. > :09:38.honourable lady has already referred to and I was shocked to read about

:09:39. > :09:45.the whole scale disenfranchhsement of people from the elections.

:09:46. > :10:03.I thank him for his advocacx on this issue. One of the right honourable

:10:04. > :10:07.people visited Burma, to look at the situation of the Rohingya pdople,

:10:08. > :10:14.who are oppressed and denied any who are oppressed and denied any

:10:15. > :10:18.democratic voice. It is somdthing the government are concerned about

:10:19. > :10:23.Andrei is on a consistent b`sis with the current government and will

:10:24. > :10:28.continue to do so with any future government. The situation of the

:10:29. > :10:40.Rohingya people is something we want Rohingya people is something we want

:10:41. > :10:42.to improve. I thank the Member for Walsall North following closely on

:10:43. > :10:47.her excellent debate on this issue towards progress for a bettdr fume

:10:48. > :10:49.and I and better elections hn Burma. There is an enormous amount of

:10:50. > :10:55.interest across the chamber and on interest across the chamber and on

:10:56. > :11:01.the other place. The people of Burma have faced decades of route all

:11:02. > :11:14.oppression. In a few days they will have their first openly contested

:11:15. > :11:19.election. In the previous prisoner amnesty which took place in October

:11:20. > :11:22.2014, when thousands were rdleased before Burma hosted two major

:11:23. > :11:32.summits, there were reports of an summits, there were reports of an

:11:33. > :11:36.upsurge in arrests. Mayan,'s authorities have a record of

:11:37. > :11:43.announcing prisoner amnesty is at opportune times, and they mtst

:11:44. > :11:48.convince as this is more th`n just a gesture. What steps can be taken to

:11:49. > :11:54.ensure this is a lasting legacy The ensure this is a lasting legacy The

:11:55. > :11:55.opposition leader has criticised the process, saying it has been less

:11:56. > :11:59.than totally free and there, that than totally free and there, that

:12:00. > :12:04.the electoral commission has failed to deal with some irregularhties.

:12:05. > :12:08.Does the Minister share her concerns and has she raised them with the

:12:09. > :12:19.government? He will also be aware, as has been stated, the Rohhngya and

:12:20. > :12:26.some Christian minorities are not being classed as citizens. Does he

:12:27. > :12:38.agree it is wrong that their voice will not be heard? What steps are

:12:39. > :12:41.being taken? On Sunday it whll be for the Bernd Wiesberger will to

:12:42. > :12:46.decide on their election, btt I know that the House will share whth them

:12:47. > :12:51.and watch hopefully looking on so that the elections can be f`irer,

:12:52. > :13:01.free and we can have a peacdful outcome, leading towards grdater

:13:02. > :13:08.human rights. Certainly the eyes of the world than this chamber are on

:13:09. > :13:09.the elections to ensure thex are free to. She was very balanced and

:13:10. > :13:16.her comments, that the fear that her comments, that the fear that

:13:17. > :13:19.things might go wrong and there are other issues with the electhon, but

:13:20. > :13:36.the optimism that this is an opportunity, the biggest opportunity

:13:37. > :13:43.for a 3 under election -- fdar and free election.

:13:44. > :13:52.To this Rohingya, they simply will not be heard, they do not h`ve the

:13:53. > :13:55.suspect it troubles all honourable suspect it troubles all honourable

:13:56. > :14:00.members when we're in our own members when we're in our

:14:01. > :14:02.constituencies in election time when constituencies in election time when

:14:03. > :14:15.people do not vote but have some form of voice, and the right

:14:16. > :14:48.spoke to the Rohingya and wd will spoke to the Rohingya and wd will

:14:49. > :14:49.continue to encourage for their continue to encourage for their

:14:50. > :14:49.for Sunday, but hopefully wd can for Sunday, but hopefully wd can

:14:50. > :14:50.build on a strong election on Sunday build on a strong election on Sunday

:14:51. > :14:51.and build the one that incltdes the Muslim population of the Rohingya,

:14:52. > :14:52.represent the entire population It represent the entire population It

:14:53. > :14:56.is a pleasure to see the Minister at the dispatch box. Burma has been a

:14:57. > :15:08.considerable interest to thd entire House, including you, sir, for many

:15:09. > :15:15.influence change in Burma? How do we influence change in Burma? How do we

:15:16. > :15:20.go about it? I thank him for that question. Diplomacy is incrddibly

:15:21. > :15:24.complicated. One thing I have learned in my short time in the

:15:25. > :15:37.Foreign Office, sometimes dhplomacy Foreign Office, sometimes dhplomacy

:15:38. > :15:41.is the best way. It is sometimes difficult to pinpoint exactly what

:15:42. > :15:49.was done to release prisoners in 2012, but it is a menu of Vdrity

:15:50. > :15:53.including campaigning groups outside of this place and individuals within

:15:54. > :15:59.this place, but certainly from a ministerial viewpoint, raishng the

:16:00. > :16:15.subject on a consistent bashs, not letting other short-term interest

:16:16. > :16:17.get in the way. At the same time, other things do Carry On. It is

:16:18. > :16:21.getting the right balance and focus and message, and that is having some

:16:22. > :16:44.success. It is very encouraging to have the elections on Sundax, but we

:16:45. > :17:05.do have concerns and clearlx we all need to do more. Many thanks, and

:17:06. > :17:08.thank you to the honourable lady for dealing with this important

:17:09. > :17:11.question. We also have concdrns that this weekend's elections must be

:17:12. > :17:11.free and fair. Human Rights Watch yesterday identified concerns over

:17:12. > :17:13.the elect to roll process bding the elect to roll process bding

:17:14. > :17:14.structural problem, including the structural problem, including the

:17:15. > :17:23.lack of election commission, discriminatory voter registration

:17:24. > :17:28.laws. Civil society monitors will cover less than one third of

:17:29. > :17:32.townships. Given these very serious concerns, we urge that the

:17:33. > :17:39.government communicate and press the Bernd Wiesberger and to eng`ge in

:17:40. > :17:47.real progressive reform in terms of the elections, and continue to bring

:17:48. > :17:53.this very important issue in the communications that they have. I

:17:54. > :17:56.would very much support the honourable lady in

:17:57. > :18:01.greater progressive reform hn greater progressive reform hn

:18:02. > :18:07.relation to the election. It is an anathema to us in this Housd to

:18:08. > :18:13.think that the seats in this chamber might be filled by military

:18:14. > :18:21.generals, 25% of the seats. This is not something that is recognised as

:18:22. > :18:27.issues with the media in thd United issues with the media in thd United

:18:28. > :18:27.Kingdom, but it is fair to say that managed to do a lot more in

:18:28. > :18:30.regard. Regarding the electhons the regard. Regarding the electhons the

:18:31. > :18:41.structure of the election commission, more work to be done,

:18:42. > :18:57.but the EU did deploy a comlission, which was extensive, over 100 able

:18:58. > :19:02.deputy chief observer is a British deputy chief observer is a British

:19:03. > :19:10.national, which is something we should be proud of. Can I wdlcome

:19:11. > :19:18.the opportunity for the Member for Walsall South for raising the

:19:19. > :19:25.points. It is fantastic to see the Minister back in the House. We have

:19:26. > :19:28.spoken about the influence Britain spoken about the influence Britain

:19:29. > :19:44.has the beer. A comment posted on has the beer. A comment posted on

:19:45. > :19:46.the Facebook page has been seen by 150,000 people to encourage them to

:19:47. > :19:52.go out to vote. Would he agree with me that whatever the situathon in

:19:53. > :20:00.Burma, the only way they will affect a change in the country is to go out

:20:01. > :20:10.and use their vote however they see fit, but that is the way to move to

:20:11. > :20:13.a more democratic country? Thank you for welcoming me back to thd House.

:20:14. > :20:22.I do not think I had the cotrtesy to welcome him to the Commons, but it

:20:23. > :20:29.is a pleasure. Hearing from his experience, I am going to ldave the

:20:30. > :20:39.chamber and tweaked a copy of my speech. It is clear that social

:20:40. > :20:45.media is picked up in a way that picking it up in paper form does not

:20:46. > :20:50.achieve. Social media allows people to access this type of information

:20:51. > :21:08.and I look forward to him to eating back. -- tweeting. Minister may want

:21:09. > :21:13.to respond now or in writing. In relation to the human rights

:21:14. > :21:19.periodic review recommendathons could he inform the House what

:21:20. > :21:38.progress has been made in ensuring independence... I am more than happy

:21:39. > :21:49.to raise issues with the UN special reporter and understand the forum

:21:50. > :21:55.multipronged attack to try to multipronged attack to try to

:21:56. > :22:03.improve the situation and I think the engagement would be an hmportant

:22:04. > :22:09.part of that. My honourable friend said a little earlier that Burma has

:22:10. > :22:14.regressed backwards from 2002. I am wondering what travel advicd does

:22:15. > :22:19.the Foreign Office give to those people considering going to Burma

:22:20. > :22:26.from the United Kingdom for holidays and recreation? I would advhse

:22:27. > :22:30.anyone looking at travel advice to look at the Foreign Office website,

:22:31. > :22:37.particularly in places like Burma, where there is a significant events

:22:38. > :22:41.happening on Sunday, travel arrangements could change qtickly.

:22:42. > :22:47.Having spoken to consular staff yesterday, the consular support is

:22:48. > :22:55.one of the best around the world and the advices bang up-to-date and if

:22:56. > :23:11.things change hourly, it is the best placed to look. Could I welcome my

:23:12. > :23:16.honourable friend back to this place. His parents in law used to

:23:17. > :23:17.live in my constituency while one of them was a councillor in Plxmouth.

:23:18. > :23:29.Coming in this morning, I hdard that Coming in this morning, I hdard that

:23:30. > :23:31.the military in Burma were suggesting that if the opposition

:23:32. > :23:40.wins the election, they would not allow her to become president. Could

:23:41. > :23:58.he comment on that? His lobbying in Zimbabwe shows no bound. In relation

:23:59. > :24:34.to what will happen, she stood as a member of Parliament in 2012, and is

:24:35. > :24:34.standing again on Sunday before taking a position in governlent The

:24:35. > :24:35.government would need to be formed by February, and there

:24:36. > :24:35.constitutional bars that will make constitutional bars that will

:24:36. > :24:35.it difficult for her to takd up the it difficult for her to takd up the

:24:36. > :24:36.role of president, particul`rly in role of president, particul`rly in

:24:37. > :24:36.the Constitution it was said that if the Constitution it was said that if

:24:37. > :24:37.non-passports, you cannot bd non-passports, you cannot bd

:24:38. > :24:37.specifically the bar Aung S`n Suu specifically the bar Aung S`n Suu

:24:38. > :24:42.Kyi from taking the presidency if she was elected. In this case, the

:24:43. > :24:47.Constitution does not follow democratic and suppose, and we

:24:48. > :24:52.should encourage the people of Burma to move towards it, whether between

:24:53. > :25:02.the 8th of November and February balance can be found, but I noted

:25:03. > :25:06.her statement earlier that, if victorious and the need for

:25:07. > :25:13.democracy won, she intended to govern. Regardless of the

:25:14. > :25:14.Constitution, I think peopld should take note of the Democratic will of

:25:15. > :25:26.the people. This response and for his initial

:25:27. > :25:34.statement and join colleaguds in warmly welcoming the Warner

:25:35. > :25:50.Honourable gentleman back to the House. Can I ask the Ministdr to

:25:51. > :26:00.make a question on the visit by the Egyptian president to London and his

:26:01. > :26:13.statement on thes possession of the death penalty. We welcomed President

:26:14. > :26:18.Sisi to London and the Primd Minister will make and disctss a

:26:19. > :26:27.range of issues including how to contact terrorism in the region and

:26:28. > :26:34.how to help Egypt succeed as a prosperous and democratic country.

:26:35. > :26:40.It is no secret we want to see more political progress in Egypt and

:26:41. > :26:49.freedom of expression and protection of rights and more space for civil

:26:50. > :26:55.society. These freedoms are essential for long-term stability in

:26:56. > :27:03.Egypt. That metaphor and diplomacy is not a way to succeed in putting

:27:04. > :27:06.our views across. We need to have frank and honest conversations and

:27:07. > :27:11.visit provides an opportunity for the pro Minister to exercisd his

:27:12. > :27:19.desire to see more political progress in Egypt including on

:27:20. > :27:24.political rights and freedols which are essential foundations for

:27:25. > :27:33.long-term stability. So we welcome the recent Parliamentary eldctions

:27:34. > :27:37.in Egypt as a an important step in restoring its vertical suggdstions

:27:38. > :27:40.and the Egyptian people holding the government to account. The new

:27:41. > :27:46.Parliament should have a vital responsibility in building tp vital

:27:47. > :27:51.and prosperous and democrathc country. We are working with

:27:52. > :27:58.officials from the Egyptian Parliament to help prepare ht for

:27:59. > :28:04.the new session and to help continue this cooperation after elections.

:28:05. > :28:07.Since President Sisi was eldcted in May 2014 we have raised concerns

:28:08. > :28:11.over a number of human rights issues including the large number of death

:28:12. > :28:15.sentences and prosecution of international journalists. The UK

:28:16. > :28:20.respect the independence of the Egyptian judiciary but we rdmain

:28:21. > :28:33.concerned about judicial processes which result in mass sentences and

:28:34. > :28:37.result in a lack of due process and these damage the reputation of the

:28:38. > :28:41.judiciary immediate and unddrmine international confidence in the fair

:28:42. > :28:44.application of law. The United Kingdom opposes the death pdnalty in

:28:45. > :28:52.all circumstances as a mattdr of principle. We have and will continue

:28:53. > :28:55.to raise concerns and misle`ding meetings and in the human rhghts

:28:56. > :29:01.council and we hope this visit to the UK will be an opportunity to

:29:02. > :29:10.hold an open dialogue on all issues and develop a programme of practical

:29:11. > :29:24.cooperation for the future. On the issue of human rights in issue Egypt

:29:25. > :29:29.he will be aware of a number of concerns just as condemning to death

:29:30. > :29:37.of ex-president and a man bden given three years in prison for announcing

:29:38. > :29:46.he was an atheist and therefore denouncing Islam. Sir Simon McDonald

:29:47. > :29:50.said that answering as perm`nent Secretary although it is ond of the

:29:51. > :29:53.things we follow it is not one of our top priorities. I would not

:29:54. > :29:57.dispute that right now the prosperity agenda is further up the

:29:58. > :30:03.list of priorities. World Mhnister take this opportunity to confirm

:30:04. > :30:08.that the government is not downgrading human rights in favour

:30:09. > :30:11.of trade and relation to thd adage teenager who may be subject to the

:30:12. > :30:19.death penalty, and my right honourable friend the member for

:30:20. > :30:27.octane Shetland Meta sisters yesterday, has he raised thhs case

:30:28. > :30:32.directly with President Sish? Regarding faith issues were the

:30:33. > :30:38.Prime Minister raise issues with him about different faiths is bding

:30:39. > :30:45.persecuted in Egypt such as Coptic Christians. Will he have th`t frank

:30:46. > :30:52.and honest conversation with President Sisi and press hil to

:30:53. > :31:00.commit to an end to the death penalty, political detentions and

:31:01. > :31:05.mass trial and torture in Egypt He races are a very important hssues

:31:06. > :31:09.and I can see on both my opportunity to meet the president and the

:31:10. > :31:12.Foreign Minister and Prime Linister, many of these matters will be

:31:13. > :31:18.raised. He does mention right up front perhaps a priority th`t

:31:19. > :31:23.Britain places on the issue of human rights self I may clarify the

:31:24. > :31:27.remarks made by Simon McDon`ld. It is now argue that we raise human

:31:28. > :31:32.rights as a matter of coursd. It is not instead of but it is part of the

:31:33. > :31:36.package and part of the process that every time I going to meeting our

:31:37. > :31:39.every time my right honourable friend from the department of

:31:40. > :31:42.international element goes hnto meeting we raise these mattdrs and

:31:43. > :31:46.that is part of the broad brush of areas of concern that we rahse, not

:31:47. > :31:57.just the prosperity and agenda as well. We have raised concerns about

:31:58. > :32:05.the legal process not vertical - particular case. We have concerns

:32:06. > :32:08.for the roll-out of these m`ss trials and the need to meet

:32:09. > :32:22.international standards. Specifically he mentions Ibrahim

:32:23. > :32:28.Malawa. The Irish government is taking the lead but we are hn touch

:32:29. > :32:32.with them. In order to ensure the countries are able to take the

:32:33. > :32:46.necessary steps of reform particularly after a decade of

:32:47. > :32:49.turbulence that Egypt has endured it is absolutely right that we press on

:32:50. > :32:59.these matters and human rights that are forward thinking in asshsting

:33:00. > :33:08.Egypt in a variety of number of ways. I agree with the Minister and

:33:09. > :33:13.his definition of the interdst of Britain in a relationship whth Egypt

:33:14. > :33:18.but often conducting diplom`cy require some ugly compromisds with

:33:19. > :33:27.our values. Whilst I accept that practical engagement with Egypt is

:33:28. > :33:37.essential and is the largest country in the Arab world by some dhstance.

:33:38. > :33:48.And some would claim in 2013 that the then general Sisi reclahmed

:33:49. > :33:53.stability for Egypt in removing the president from office. But nobody

:33:54. > :33:57.should been any doubt what the price has been and possibly of people were

:33:58. > :34:04.killed when the squares werd cleared and 40,000 hour prison and we have

:34:05. > :34:07.had reports and seen death penalty is being handed out in batches of

:34:08. > :34:12.several hundred. Many of us will have had first-hand testimony of

:34:13. > :34:20.people being tortured in thd Egyptian justice system. I `m not

:34:21. > :34:27.entirely sure that inviting President Sisi to the United Kingdom

:34:28. > :34:31.is necessarily wholly appropriate at this time until those issues are

:34:32. > :34:41.properly addressed and some accountability for the condtct of

:34:42. > :34:46.the operation of policy since. Well it is necessary to give thel advice

:34:47. > :34:52.privately about the possibld via our presenting to us by the scale of the

:34:53. > :34:56.suppression which could then have the effect of widening the

:34:57. > :35:02.insurgency they face and thd support for the most extreme forms of

:35:03. > :35:10.Islamist jihad is in the whole region. It has been reported that

:35:11. > :35:14.the Foreign Office were not exactly enthusiastic for this visit but the

:35:15. > :35:21.decision was made in ten Downing St and I wonder if the Minister would

:35:22. > :35:29.like to comment on that. I'l very grateful for his statement. I am not

:35:30. > :35:34.sure whether he speaks as an individual but I hope it dods and

:35:35. > :35:39.not as German as the foreign affairs select committee books I'm not sure

:35:40. > :35:48.they would be in agreement dxactly with everything he said. -- I'm not

:35:49. > :35:52.certain. The Foreign Office is very much in support of this visht and he

:35:53. > :35:57.began best stating the diffhculties that Egypt is facing at the moment.

:35:58. > :36:00.Egypt is very difficult neck of the woods with the problems we're facing

:36:01. > :36:07.in Libya and the problems wd're facing in Gaza as well. He `lso

:36:08. > :36:12.mentions this is the largest Arab country in the region and often we

:36:13. > :36:18.are eating goes other Arab countries follow and it is important that we

:36:19. > :36:22.help Egypt take those footsteps to a democratic place. That is why the

:36:23. > :36:31.Prime Minister invited Sisi President to this country so that we

:36:32. > :36:35.can have that dialogue to encourage up asperity agenda but also to

:36:36. > :36:40.encourage importance of polhtical reform and that is how we c`n help

:36:41. > :36:47.Egypt succeed in taking those steps towards a stable and prosperous and

:36:48. > :36:54.democratic place. When I first of all thank the honourable melber for

:36:55. > :37:03.Carshalton and Wellington for raising this issue? -- Wellhngton.

:37:04. > :37:09.When the original demonstrations take place in 2011 was a grdat sense

:37:10. > :37:15.of hope and expectation for a better of hope and expectation for a

:37:16. > :37:16.future on the part of the pdople and future on the part of the pdople and

:37:17. > :37:20.events since then have dashdd these hopes. We all want to see stability

:37:21. > :37:27.in Egypt in the wider Middld East and the House will be only too aware

:37:28. > :37:31.of the terrorist threat in Dgypt given the possible cause of the

:37:32. > :37:34.Russian plane crash but does the Minister think that securitx is

:37:35. > :37:42.furthered by the mass arrests and trials that we have seen since

:37:43. > :37:47.President Sisi seized power? Amnesty International have assessed the tens

:37:48. > :37:51.of thousands of people are currently detained in a crackdown on dissent

:37:52. > :37:55.that is targeted alleged supporters of the banned Muslim brotherhood and

:37:56. > :37:58.human rights activists and perceived opponents of the government and

:37:59. > :38:03.journalists. As the Mr recehved assurances that British and other

:38:04. > :38:06.journalists are free to operate in Egypt? Mass trials have seen courts

:38:07. > :38:10.are free to operate in Egypt? Mass trials have seen Courtown down death

:38:11. > :38:14.sentences including on the former president long prison sentences

:38:15. > :38:17.What assessment has the govdrnment made of the fairness of those trials

:38:18. > :38:23.given the concerns that had been expressed about the lack of proper

:38:24. > :38:27.legal representation and thd wholly inadequate opportunities to present

:38:28. > :38:32.a defence? There are also rdports of torture being used against those

:38:33. > :38:37.being detained including thd use of sexual violence against womdn. As

:38:38. > :38:41.the government seen these rdports and if so what specific

:38:42. > :38:44.recommendations have been m`de to the Egyptian government? Thd

:38:45. > :38:49.Minister said the premise that will be raising a range of issues with

:38:50. > :38:53.the Minister today and can he confirmed the Prime Minister will be

:38:54. > :39:00.raising all of these specifhc human rights issues with President Sisi

:39:01. > :39:03.during the discussions todax? And finally will those discussions also

:39:04. > :39:07.cover the status of the Moose, brotherhood and the United Kingdom

:39:08. > :39:17.and if so can the Minister tell the House when the review carridd out by

:39:18. > :39:24.John Jenkins will be published? Firstly can I thank her for her

:39:25. > :39:32.observations and questions `nd I welcome her to this place. That is

:39:33. > :39:36.much we can agree on and we want to see a stable Egypt and other huge

:39:37. > :39:39.concerns expressed about thd terrorism is situation that the

:39:40. > :39:44.country actually faces which has been underlined by the Russhan plane

:39:45. > :40:03.incident where there will bd a statement in more detail following.

:40:04. > :40:13.Had in the protest law, and also the anti-terror law, which is

:40:14. > :40:16.specifically where a eejit hs facing a terrorist threat, but that should

:40:17. > :40:32.freedoms of normal people -, Egypt. freedoms of normal people -, Egypt.

:40:33. > :40:34.The key findings will be published shortly, and on the question of the

:40:35. > :40:37.agenda with the Prime Minister, all I can say is that there is nothing

:40:38. > :40:49.which is off the table from that perspective. As chairman of the

:40:50. > :40:55.all-party Egypt group, may H disagree with my honourable friend

:40:56. > :40:59.and say that we warmly welcome the visit of the president, and we think

:41:00. > :41:15.it is a tremendous opportunhty for the United Kingdom to engagd for all

:41:16. > :41:20.the reasons he has set out. Egypt has done work in trying to bring

:41:21. > :41:27.about a solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Would he not agree

:41:28. > :41:31.that it is important for thd British Government to give its expertise in

:41:32. > :41:36.counterterrorism because Egxpt is under serious threat, and of course

:41:37. > :41:46.human rights and democracy `re essential, but stability in Egypt is

:41:47. > :41:53.a precondition of human rights. Can I welcome my right honourable friend

:41:54. > :42:05.to his position as chairman of the group. Can I say that I was

:42:06. > :42:11.personally involved in making sure that he and I and other members will

:42:12. > :42:15.have the opportunity as parliamentarians to meet Barack

:42:16. > :42:23.Obama one to raise many of these issues that have been brought up

:42:24. > :42:26.today. He speaks appropriatdly about Egypt's wider role, the

:42:27. > :42:34.bring together peace and parties, bring together peace and parties,

:42:35. > :42:41.and we attended a meeting in Cairo as part of the donor conferdnce

:42:42. > :42:48.which was an accused of by Barack Obama one himself --

:42:49. > :43:03.and initiative of president Sisi. I thank him for bringing this

:43:04. > :43:09.important question to the House and I thank the Minister for his answer.

:43:10. > :43:15.A stable Egypt is vital for the wider region, but we cannot support

:43:16. > :43:18.stability at all costs. We do not just have a humanitarian

:43:19. > :43:26.Egypt to stand up for human rights Egypt to stand up for human rights

:43:27. > :43:32.in their country, we also h`ve a responsibility to promote it in this

:43:33. > :43:37.country, because this would inherently create a more st`ble

:43:38. > :43:43.Egypt. What assurances can he get that human rights in Egypt will

:43:44. > :43:46.remain on the agenda today, given reports this morning that the UK

:43:47. > :43:56.Government's decision to suspend flights to the tourist resort means

:43:57. > :44:02.they will be less resect -- are likely to be less receptive to

:44:03. > :44:07.discussions? I pay tribute to her expertise in this area, but when

:44:08. > :44:10.this statement is released, it will become apparent that we are

:44:11. > :44:18.conflating two separate isstes. conflating two separate isstes.

:44:19. > :44:18.There is a security threat to deal There is a security threat to deal

:44:19. > :44:23.with flights, which is why they have been suspended. That is sep`rate to

:44:24. > :44:28.the commitment in encouraging advancement in human rights, but

:44:29. > :44:33.also the prosperity agenda `s well. So I hope it is not the casd that

:44:34. > :44:34.the urgency of us having to deal with looking after and making sure

:44:35. > :44:39.British citizens are secured a broad British citizens are secured a broad

:44:40. > :44:49.does not affect the importance of this visit taking place. Dods my

:44:50. > :44:52.right honourable friend agrde that we need stronger relationshhps with

:44:53. > :44:56.countries in the Middle East, therefore it is right we ard

:44:57. > :45:07.engaging in dialogue with President Sisi. As expressed by my honourable

:45:08. > :45:16.friend, stability in Egypt hs far preferable to chaos in the region

:45:17. > :45:19.and for our own security. She articulates the exact questhon that

:45:20. > :45:23.many countries and governments have to ask themselves, how best to be

:45:24. > :45:30.influence and exert changing countries taking steps forw`rd, or

:45:31. > :45:37.encourage to take steps forward One way of doing it is by shouthng from

:45:38. > :45:41.afar and the other is by engaging with them and having privatd

:45:42. > :45:44.conversations and providing assistance and expertise, which we

:45:45. > :45:51.can take to the country to lake sure we can facilitate change th`t way.

:45:52. > :45:59.Is it -- it is not so open `nd overt, but I can see change taking

:46:00. > :46:04.place through that way. Can I also commend the honourable membdr for

:46:05. > :46:08.bringing this matter to the floor of the House. The Foreign and

:46:09. > :46:15.Commonwealth Office may havd set priorities which mean that Chrissy

:46:16. > :46:29.rights have more priority. Stability rights have more priority. Stability

:46:30. > :46:33.and prosperity inevitably follows, and a government founded on

:46:34. > :46:38.oppression and denial of hulan rights will never be a stable

:46:39. > :46:42.government. Will he assure the House that the Foreign Office will review

:46:43. > :46:49.its priorities and put democracy and respect for human rights at the top

:46:50. > :46:51.of this list of priorities? At the beginning of this year, I h`d the

:46:52. > :46:59.honour of taking 50 companids on a delegation to Cairo, and visited the

:47:00. > :47:03.new Suez Canal as well. It was during the meetings they ard that we

:47:04. > :47:15.could raise these issues. Companies will not invest in places that they

:47:16. > :47:48.do not feel secure in the jtdicial process. I hear what he says, but I

:47:49. > :48:08.make it clear, I never shy `way from any opportunity to raise thdse

:48:09. > :48:09.not necessarily make the front pages not necessarily make the front pages

:48:10. > :48:10.of the newspapers, but I gu`rantee that these matters are raisdd by us

:48:11. > :48:11.and the MOD as well. Steven`ge is home of the Coptic Cathedral, and I

:48:12. > :48:12.am concerned about Coptic Christians in Egypt. Will be raised? I visited

:48:13. > :48:13.Cairo, -- Coptic churches. H raised Cairo, -- Coptic churches. H raised

:48:14. > :48:14.this matter. It will also bd raised during the visits in the next couple

:48:15. > :48:18.of days. In July 2013, after the military coup, the then Fordign

:48:19. > :48:23.Secretary said we cannot support military interventions in ddmocratic

:48:24. > :48:29.processes. The new regime sdems to be taking a completely diffdrent

:48:30. > :48:33.tack. What has happened since then is that the human rights record in

:48:34. > :48:40.Egypt's has plummeted. The Linister knows that there was a trial were

:48:41. > :48:47.520 death sentences were issued after one hour, 683 were issued

:48:48. > :48:52.without a single defendant being present. We do not hear abott it

:48:53. > :48:59.because 125 journalists are locked up. Canty understand that endorsing

:49:00. > :49:04.President Sisi is likely to make people more engaged with radical

:49:05. > :49:12.terrorism than the other wax around? -- cant he understand? I do not

:49:13. > :49:17.agree with her on the issue of elections and so forth, or the

:49:18. > :49:22.position of President Sisi. He was elected and have a referendtm as

:49:23. > :49:25.well. There are no parliamentary elections which have taken place in

:49:26. > :49:29.place on the 23rd of Novembdr, place on the 23rd of Novembdr,

:49:30. > :49:38.providing additional scrutiny to what the executive is doing. We take

:49:39. > :49:43.every opportunity to raise ` mass arrest, and on the issue of Al

:49:44. > :49:47.Jazeera journalists, 20 werd arrested in December 2013 and we

:49:48. > :49:52.took every opportunity to m`ke it clear that we had concerns `bout the

:49:53. > :49:56.manner of these arrests not least because two Britons were involved.

:49:57. > :50:02.They were convicted in absentia and we are now requesting a full pardon

:50:03. > :50:08.cleared. What assessment has he made cleared. What assessment has he made

:50:09. > :50:18.of how effective the parlialentary elections in Egypt's will bd -- in

:50:19. > :50:24.Egypt will be? And has he dhscussed this with President Sisi? The

:50:25. > :50:29.elections were well overdue and we are pleased that the first round of

:50:30. > :50:34.elections have actually takdn place. This is a new parliament, there is a

:50:35. > :50:39.lot of work to be done as they take footsteps and understanding how they

:50:40. > :50:44.need to hold the executive to account. I am pleased to sed that

:50:45. > :50:48.there will be a partnership scheme under Westminster foundation for

:50:49. > :50:51.democracy and indeed our own funds from the Commonwealth officd,

:50:52. > :50:59.providing financial assistance to help train and make sure thdy are as

:51:00. > :51:06.effective as possible in holding them to account. Can I commdnd my

:51:07. > :51:14.honourable friend for the work he is doing in this area, particularly

:51:15. > :51:28.encouraging human rights behng raised at every occasion. C`n he

:51:29. > :51:47.through the government for the through the government for the

:51:48. > :51:48.hospitality they are giving to so many thousands of refugees

:51:49. > :51:48.Syria. Egypt is not often mdntioned Syria. Egypt is not often mdntioned

:51:49. > :51:49.regarding bridal work -- vital work regarding bridal work -- vital work

:51:50. > :51:49.in this respect. There is a terrorism group in the

:51:50. > :52:02.Peninsula, and has pledged hts Peninsula, and has pledged hts

:52:03. > :52:14.allegiance to eyes -- Isil, and they are... Is this question, Mr Chris

:52:15. > :52:18.Bryant. Will bid Leader of the House give us business for next wdek? On

:52:19. > :52:22.Monday the ninth, we will do the remaining stages of the Scotland

:52:23. > :52:23.Bill. On Tuesday it will