UK urged to promote human rights in Iraq
Iraq-UK, Politics, 5/1/2007

The UK Foreign Affairs Select Committee Sunday urged the British government help address the further grave deterioration in respect for human rights in Iraq, which it said was "in large part caused by the worsening security situation."

"We recommend that the government redouble efforts to promote respect for the rule of law and for human rights in organs of the Iraqi state," the all-party group of MPs said in a review of the Foreign Office's latest annual human rights report for last year.

It criticized ministers for constantly referring back to the appalling disregard for human rights under the regime of Saddam Hussein, saying that "although the litany of past abuses may explain the continuing culture of violence in Iraq, it cannot justify it." The British government was also called upon to publish the terms on the transfer of Iraqi prisoners detained by UK forces as contained in a memorandum with the Iraqi government after the Foreign Office failed to respond to its request in February.

In its report, the committee further expressed concern by the lack of progress in achieving basic human rights in large sections of Afghan society and asked the Foreign Office to provide statistics about incidents in this year's report.

"We recommend that in its response to this report the government set out how much compensation it has paid to civilian victims of British military operations in Afghanistan, to how many persons such payments have been made, and in what circumstances," it also said.

On the scandal about US rendition flights, the MPs called on the government to ask Washington if aircraft used in such operations used UK airports or overseas territories en route to or from secret concentration camps and to make clear its policy on this practice.

They also warned that the government's decision to halt the bribery inquiry into the multi-billion pounds al-Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia "may have caused severe damage to the reputation of the United Kingdom in the fight against corruption." "We recommend that in its response to this report the government set out what steps it has taken since that decision to maintain momentum on international anti-corruption measures, and how it has responded to the OECD's criticisms of the decision," they said.

The Foreign Office was also urged to clarify which munition types are to be retained in service and for how long following the government's decision to only destroy "dumb" cluster bombs.

On a general note, the committee also asked if the Foreign Offices assessment on human rights abuses was being hampered by particular states or by groups of states pursuing their own agenda.

Previous Stories:
  US refusing Iraq evidence at UK inquest   (4/16/2007)
  Blair called to account over Iraq war in stage play   (4/16/2007)
  Concern about back room decisions on Iraqis oil rights: UK MPs   (3/26/2007)

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