Brussels, 02/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - On 30 April, the Spanish Presidency made the following declaration on behalf of the EU:
"The European Union strongly condemns the recent arbitrary detention and degrading is handling of prominent Liberian Human Rights lawyer, Tiawan Gongloe. The EU calls upon the Government of Liberia to take immediate action to have the perpetrators of this serious abuse of Human Rights brought to justice. The EU recalls the Government of Liberia's recent commitment in the framework of consultations of the Cotonou Agreement to ensure improved respect for Human Rights, upholding of the Rule of Law and an end to the culture of impunity. The EU has also noted with concern the closure by the police, on Thursday 28th April, of the newspaper The Analyst. Such acts are in clear contradiction with the Government of Liberia's engagements to promote democracy and freedom of expression."