Strasbourg, 18/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, discrimination against homosexuals in Uganda and persecution of juvenile offenders in Yemen were all the subjects of human rights resolutions at the European Parliament as it closed its plenary session in Strasbourg on Thursday 17 February.
Cambodia-Thailand. In a joint text from the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA, ECR and GUE/NGL groups the Parliament condemned the border clashes between the armed forces of Thailand and Cambodia and urged both parties to reduce tension, resume dialogue and accept the assistance offered by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), currently chaired by Indonesia.
Uganda. In a joint text from the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA, ECR and GUE/NGL groups, the Parliament condemned the murder on 26 January of Ugandan human rights activist David Kato Kisule and urged the Ugandan authorities to conduct impartial investigations and bring the perpetrators to justice. Uganda is called on to prevent discrimination, persecution and violence towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The Parliament says that the EU must take Uganda's discriminatory attitude towards gay people into account in its bilateral relations. Since 2009, the Ugandan parliament has been considering an “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” which would punish homosexual acts by between seven years' and life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
Yemen. In a joint text from the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and ECR groups, the European Parliament calls on the Yemeni authorities to halt the execution of Muhammed Taher Thabet Samoum, who was convicted for a murder he allegedly committed under the age of 18, and to stop executing juvenile offenders under 18. (E.H./transl.rt)