|
January 21, 2002 The Independent
In an emergency Commons statement yesterday, Ben Bradshaw, a Foreign Office minister, denied claims that inmates had been tortured and humiliated. He said: 'Both we and the Americans are well aware that we will be judged by a higher standard than the Taliban and al-Qa'ida and, on the basis of the report, I can confirm these standards are being met.'
He confirmed that the Foreign Office had been in contact with the US government to discuss if the inmates should be treated as prisoners of war and whether Britons threatened with the death penalty should be extradited to this country for trial.
The minister faced a series of protests from Labour MPs. Graham Allen, a former whip, said: 'One staggeringly incompetent political misjudgement by the American authorities can throw victory away and give incredible propaganda to the enemies of those of us in the free world.'
Ann Clwyd, who chairs the all-party group on human rights, said: 'Human rights isn't something you can cherry-pick on... We have standards in Britain and we cannot let those standards drop.'
17th January 2002
Menzies Campbell MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to the Prime Minister's comments this afternoon, said:
'The Prime Minister's acknowledgement that the captives at Guantanamo should be treated according to the Geneva Convention is both timely and right in principle.
'Every effort should be made now to persuade the American authorities publicly to endorse all of the terms and conditions of these conventions.
'If the roles were reversed and American citizens were in the custody of a foreign power, Congress would rightly insist on no less.'
..........................................................................
02 November 2001
Seventeen MPs, including 11 Labour backbenchers, demanded a pause to the bombing of Afghanistan after they forced a Commons vote on the campaign last night.
The rebels, led by the father of the House, Tam Dalyell, were defeated by 373 to 13. It was the first Commons vote linked to the conflict since action began. Four tellers opposed to the bombing ensured that the vote took place, in effect taking the total against the Government to 17. They comprised 11 Labour, four Plaid Cymru and two Scottish National Party members.
George Galloway, Labour MP for Glasgow Kelvin, said he was voting against the Government to protest against the fact that MPs had not been allowed to vote on the conduct of the war...
Diane Abbott, the Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, said: 'I do not believe that a bombing campaign with a rising tide of civilian casualties which lasts into the winter and the spring is sustainable in the eyes of public opinion. If it is not sustainable in the eyes of public opinion it is not politically sustainable and it runs the risk of undermining the political and diplomatic objectives colleagues profess to hold.'
Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said cluster bombs were regarded with 'revulsion' by many. He said: 'I cannot believe that the success of the military action against Afghanistan stands or falls on the use of cluster bombs on targets in or near areas of civilian population.'
Jeremy Corbyn, Labour MP for Islington North, asked Mr Hoon how many civilians had died.
Ann Clwyd, Labour MP for Cynon Valley, called for humanitarian aid to help displaced Afghans. She said: 'I'm not happy to stand here and say that a hundred thousand children may die unless we can get that aid to them in time but that is what Unicef have told us.'
The Labour rebels were: Diane Abbott (Hackney N and Stoke Newington), Jeremy Corbyn (Islington N), Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow), George Galloway (Glasgow Kelvin), Lynne Jones (Birmingham Selly Oak), Bob Marshall-Andrews (Medway), Alan Simpson (Nottingham S), and Mike Wood (Batley). Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham) Kerry Pollard (St Albans) and John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) acted as tellers to ensure the vote took place. Others voting against the Government were: Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru Meirionnydd Nant Conwy), Adam Price (Plaid Cymru Carmarthen E and Dinefwr), Angus Robertson (SNP Moray), Michael Weir (SNP Angus) and Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru Caernarfon). Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru Ceredigion) acted as a teller.
|
|