asked Her Majesty's Government:

What further consideration they have given to self-determination for West Papua since the Question for Short Debate on 26 February (Official Report, House of Lords, cols. 620–34); and whether they are in contact with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture concerning the alleged excessive force used by police and others in that country. [HL3110]

We recognise the territorial integrity of Indonesia as it is currently constituted. We believe that full implementation of the special autonomy legislation offers the Papuan people the means to achieve their economic and social development goals.

We welcome Dr Manfred Nowak's, the UN Special Rapportuer on Torture, visit to Indonesia in November 2007, at the invitation of the Indonesian Government. In an address to the UN Human Rights Council on 4 March, the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Hassan Wirajuda, expressed appreciation for the importance of the work of the special rapporteurs and undertook to sustain Indonesia's dialogue with them. The report of Dr Manfred Nowak's visit was published at the UN Human Rights Council on 10 March. It notes the considerable progress made in Indonesia since 1998 and the commitment of the current government to uphold and promote human rights. It also raises concerns about torture and ill treatment in places of detention, particularly in the metropolitan areas of Java.

We are continuing to study Dr Nowak's report and are consulting with EU partners on how we might engage with the Indonesian Government on its findings.