Brussels, 09/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - MEP Olivier Dupuis and the four other activists of the Transnational Radical Party, who were arrested on 26 October after a demonstration in Ventiane, were sentenced, on Friday in the capital of Laos, to two years imprisonment deferred sentence, and then expelled from the country. The Radical Party immediately called for an identical decision to be taken for the five Laotian students, Keuakoun, Sisa-At, Phengphanh, Chanmanivong and Keochay, who disappeared two years ago after a demonstration for democracy.
Detention of the MEP and of the four other activists had given rise to considerable reactions on which we have reported over the past few days. On Thursday, about thirty people had demonstrated outside the Council of the Union building. To show solidarity and to put pressure on the Laotian regime, nine MEPs: - Ms Bonino (Italian Radical), Nicholson (British Liberal), Ries (Belgian Liberal) and Messrs Cohn-Bendit (German Green member), Mendiluce (Spanish Socialist), Morillon (EPP, France), Ribeiro (UEN, Portugal), and Salafranca (EPP, Spain)- had made preparations for going to Laos. Parliament President Nicole Fontaine wrote to CFSP High Representative Javier Solana on Thursday to ask him to step up pressure on Laos with a view to obtaining the release of Mr Dupuis and the other prisoners. "If necessary, I consider one should not hesitate to apply procedures for suspending the cooperation agreement of 29 April 1997", she added. The same day, the president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, addressed a letter to the President of Laos, Khamtay Siphandone. He writes (unofficial translation): "Referring to our common attachment to the respect of human rights and to our shared wish to intensify cooperation between Laos and the European Union, I would appeal to your wisdom and great experience in world affairs to bring this unfortunate affair to a speedy conclusion with the release of these persons". The EP Committee on Foreign Affairs also adopted a proposal of resolution calling on the Commission and Council to begin suspension procedure of the EU/Laos cooperation agreement. It will be examined next week in plenary (see other article).