Written question asked by Gary Streeter (Conservative) on Wednesday, 13 December 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 December 2006. It was answered by Ian McCartney (Labour) on Monday, 8 January 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for the release of Marie Therese detained on terrorism charges after election to the DRC Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Our ambassador in Kinshasa has spoken to the Interior Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo and advisers to President Kabila on several occasions regarding the detention of Marie Therese Nlandu. We and European partners raised our concerns that Mme Nlandu's human rights, particularly her access to legal representation, were not being respected.Subsequently Mme Nlandu was granted access to a lawyer and has now been charged with several offences and is due to stand trial. We have pressed that her case be dealt with fairly and quickly. We will continue to monitor her situation and treatment.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 109834; 455 c3W
Session: 2006-07
Subjects: Politics and government Democratic Republic of the Congo Nlandu, Marie-Thérèse
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk0501097000072