Brussels, 06/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - Following the arrest of the Belgian Radical elected in Italy, Olivier Dupuis, The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee had an exchange of views on Monday with the Ambassador of Laos, Mr. Sonnasih. Colleagues of Mr. Dupuis belonging to all political groups waxed indignant over the arrest and detention of the MEP in violation of his parliamentary immunity, and demanded his immediate release, as well as that of Bruno Mellano, regional deputy for Piemont, and three other members of the Trans-national Radical Party: Silvia Manzi, Nikolai Khramov and Massimo Lensi. The MEPs also placed emphasis on the need for Laos to respect human rights in accordance with its Co-operation Agreement with the EU, and raised the possibility of asking for the agreement to be suspended should the release not occur very soon.
Mr. Dupuis, who was expelled from Vietnam a few months ago having demonstrated there, went to Laos with the aim of undertaking a similar action, aimed, notably, at protesting against the disappearance of five Laotian citizens almost two years ago. According to the Laotian Ambassador, who pointed out that in Europe too demonstrations had to be authorised, the one in Laos had not been and did not respect national law. According to Laotian sources, Mr Dupuis is said to have entered the territory with a tourist visa without making use of his diplomatic pass. The five Radicals are accused of propaganda and seditious actions against the Republic of Laos. They were able to be approached by diplomats from three EU countries and Russia, but these could only speak to them from a distance of 10 meters and only speaking in English. French Socialist Francois Zimeray, who is a lawyer, went to Laos to assure their defence, but has not yet been able to meet them.