UK considers envoy for Britons held abroad
High-profile cases like jailed Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abdel Fattah and imprisoned Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai have spotlighted the plight of Britons held in jails overseas.
The UK foreign ministry insists it continues to press such cases with governments, but relatives of detainees and human rights organisations complain of a lack of urgency and transparency.
"The government is committed to strengthening support for British nationals, including through the appointment of a new envoy," a Foreign Office spokesperson told AFP.
Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer has said an "Envoy for Complex Consular Detentions" is expected to be appointed "before the summer".
The government has not specified the terms of the role but it could be similar to America's Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, a position created in 2015.
Unlike the United States though, Britain does not take part in prisoner exchanges.
Professor Carla Ferstman, an expert on arbitrary detentions at the Human Rights Centre at Essex Law School, said appointing someone would be the "clearest thing that the UK can do that it hasn't done yet".
"When you have someone at the highest level they command a certain level of respect," she told AFP.
Abdel Fattah was arrested in September 2019 and sentenced to five years in prison on charges of "spreading false news" after sharing a Facebook post about police brutality.
He is still imprisoned despite a hunger strike by his mother and Britain's foreign ministry saying it is pushing for his release "at the highest levels of the Egyptian government".
His sister Sanaa Seif said an envoy would mean "a proper continued focus on" freeing detainees.
- 'Clear strategy' -
"It's also important to have a focal point that can help coordinate between different government bodies so that they all work in synchronisation," she told AFP.
Seif believes the government should consider revising travel advice to Egypt too, a call also made by lawmakers who have suggested the government should sanction Egyptian officials as well.
"Is it not clear that words are no longer sufficient?" Conservative peer Guy Black asked in parliament's House of Lords recently.
Ferstman said tightening travel guidance can be a powerful tool.
"It's a big deal because all of a sudden tourists can't get insurance and it's harder for business travel to happen. There's all kinds of implications," she explained.
Amnesty International recently called for the government to develop a "clear strategy" to support arbitrarily detained Britons, including by demanding that UK officials attend trials.
The Labour government pledged in its general election-winning manifesto last year that it would introduce "a new right to consular assistance in cases of human rights violations".
Amnesty also wants the government to call for a person's "immediate release", including publicly when it is requested by the family.
It said London took three years to publicly call for Lai to be freed, something his son Sebastian said "sends the wrong message" to "autocratic states".
"The quicker we have the government speak out post-arrest, that's the window of opportunity to have people released," Eilidh Macpherson, Amnesty's campaigns manager for individuals at risk told AFP.
UK officials say the government can be wary of accusations it is interfering in another country's judicial system.
"Sometimes it may need to be quiet about what it's doing, but this shouldn't come at the expense of transparency," said Ferstman.
Jagtar Singh Johal, a Sikh blogger from Scotland, was arrested in India in November 2017 while there for his wedding on accusations of being part of a terror plot against right-wing Hindu leaders.
He has not been convicted of a crime and in March was cleared in one of the nine charges against him.
The foreign ministry spokesperson said Foreign Secretary David Lammy "continues to raise concerns" about the detention with India's government "at every appropriate opportunity".
But his brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal complains of being kept in the dark.
"We don't know what's actually being said," he told AFP.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
11 minutes ago
- Bangkok Post
PT rejects 'secret deal' rumours
The Pheu Thai Party (PT) denies claims that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra struck a secret deal with Constitutional Court judges to influence the upcoming ruling in suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's case over a leaked audio clip of her conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. Prompong Nopparit, a former Pheu Thai spokesman, on Saturday dismissed the reports as a "groundless fabrication" designed to discredit both Thaksin and Ms Paetongtarn, as the courts prepare to hand down verdicts in two politically sensitive cases this month. The Criminal Court has scheduled Aug 22 for its verdict in the lèse majesté and computer crime case against Thaksin, widely perceived as the de facto leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party. A week later, on Aug 29, the Constitutional Court will rule on whether Ms Paetongtarn breached ethical standards in connection with the audio recording. Opponents are exploiting the timing to stir distrust and confusion, Mr Prompong said, adding that dragging judges into politics could also damage the credibility of the judiciary. "Just think about it. Who would ever do such a thing? As for Thaksin's case, there's nothing there; it's not a cause for concern," he said. Regarding Ms Paetongtarn's case, he said the witness testimony, documents and explanations presented to the court were comprehensive and complete, and that all allegations could be addressed. "The prime minister has acted transparently, and nothing in the leaked clip undermines the nation's security," said Mr Prompong. The controversy stems from a recording circulated online on June 18 of a conversation allegedly between Ms Paetongtarn and Hun Sen. In it, Ms Paetongtarn appeared to make critical comments about the commander of the Second Army Region and repeatedly sought to appease Hun Sen, even expressing her willingness to yield to his demands. The complaint to the court accuses her of violating ethical standards for political office-holders. In a written clarification submitted to the court on Thursday, Ms Paetongtarn addressed a particularly contentious remark in the clip: "If there's anything you want, just let me know. I'll take care of it." She claimed the words were part of her negotiating technique, not an improper offer of favours as she sought to appease Hun Sen, a personal friend of her father's. The two families have since fallen out over the clip row. Former senator Somchai Swangkarn also refuted the rumours in a Facebook post, saying the Aug 4–9 trip by certain Constitutional Court judges to India was an official study programme, not a secret negotiation. He dismissed the claims as "completely untrue", citing clear evidence published on the court's official website about the judges' India visit. The site confirms the president of the court, along with several judges, travelled to India as part of the Executive-Level Constitutional Court Officials Training Programme (Batch 1). The delegation, he said, met India's chief justice, visited the Supreme Court and Delhi University's law faculty and paid a courtesy call on the Thai ambassador in New Delhi. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong, the party's secretary-general, said Ms Paetongtarn intended to appear in court in person on Aug 21 -- her birthday -- when the inquiry session is scheduled. When asked whether Pheu Thai had prepared a contingency plan in case the prime minister faced a political mishap, Mr Sorawong responded: "Not at all. We have full confidence in the prime minister's integrity, and everything will be dealt with based on the facts. Whatever will be will be. We'll just have to wait and see." Asked about possible successors, he said veteran nominee Chaikasem Nitisiri was always prepared if circumstances required. Mr Chaikasem has previously said that anyone stepping in as a prime ministerial candidate must be fully ready.
Bangkok Post
17 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Serial petitioner seeks 'MP vote-buying' inquiry
Political activist Srisuwan Janya petitioned the Election Commission (EC) to investigate a suspected vote-buying scheme targeting MPs, following the circulation of an audio clip in which a woman is allegedly heard negotiating payments for their support on key government bills. Mr Srisuwan described this as a grave threat to democracy and the party system, urging the EC to summon those People's Party (PP) MPs who had exposed the scheme. He said tracing phone records could quickly uncover the woman's identity, her political connections, and who directed her actions. If proven, he said, offenders could face up to five years in prison, fines of up to 100,000 baht, revocation of voting rights, and possible party dissolution under the Political Party Act of 2017. The allegations originated from the PP's deputy leader, Sirikanya Tansakul, who disclosed that MPs had been approached with offers to sell their votes. Khon Kaen MP Chutchawan Apirukmonkong, from the same party, later said he had been offered 10 million baht to back the 2026 budget bill and an upcoming entertainment complex bill. Payment, he claimed, was to be made in three instalments: 3 million baht upfront, 4 million after the entertainment complex vote and 3 million after the budget bill vote. Mr Chutchawan said the offer came from a woman who first contacted him via Facebook on June 23, asking for his phone number and later inviting him for coffee. Suspicious of the unusual approach, he engaged in conversation. The woman eventually revealed her purpose. Mr Chutchawan rejected the offer. Despite his attempts to find out who she represented -- a specific political party, an MP, or a minister -- he said he received no clear answer. Fellow Khon Kaen MP Weeranan Huadsri reported receiving a similar call on June 22 from a woman using the same name. Both MPs believe the operation was orchestrated by a figure of influence and could possibly be part of a political manoeuvre to tarnish either the government or opposition. A third MP from Nonthaburi allegedly received a comparable offer, even being presented with a contract, which he declined. All three MPs say they are prepared to cooperate with investigators and provide the phone number as evidence.
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Military funds 'never withheld'
Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has addressed public concerns after the Second Army Region posted an appeal for donations of large quantities of concertina wire. The request followed an incident in which a Thai soldier became the fifth to lose a leg to newly planted landmines allegedly laid by Cambodian forces. Speaking to reporters, Mr Phumtham, who is also a deputy prime minister and the interior minister, said no such request for concertina wire had ever been submitted to him and stressed the government has never withheld funding from the military. "Requests for additional equipment can be submitted to the armed forces and the army commander," he said. "What has been requested so far -- whether budget or personnel -- has been fully approved. The government has not obstructed anything related to strengthening our troops in defending the nation's sovereignty." He added that he would call the Second Army Region commander directly to reiterate the government is ready to grant immediate approval if anything is in short supply. The controversy arose after the Second Army Region requested financial support for concertina wire with a 100cm diameter "to help protect Thailand's sovereignty" in a Facebook post on Tuesday. The post quickly drew a flood of comments such as: "No support from the government", "Doesn't the government have to fund this?" and "What is the government doing?" Royal Thai Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree later said both the government and the military have sufficient budgets. However, due to the urgent need for the wire in four border provinces -- Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Buri Ram -- the Second Army Region opted to seek donations instead.
