Brussels, 11/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - On 10 June, the Spanish Presidency made the following declaration on behalf of the EU:
"The EU is deeply concerned at the deterioration in the political situation and in human rights in Equatorial Guinea in recent weeks, which have seen many people, including leaders of opposition political parties, taken into custody, and have culminated in the recent trial of detainees in Malabo. These events represent a retreat on the part of the authorities of Equatorial Guinea from the progress made with the rule of law and observance of human rights. The EU is concerned at the procedural irregularities observed during the trial, at the allegations of torture and ill-treatment of the accused, and at the flimsiness of the evidence, which contrasts with the severity of the sentence. All this casts serious doubt over the willingness of the authorities of Equatorial Guinea to defend the rule of law and comply with the human rights commitments recently made by the country at the 58th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and in the context of international instruments such as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to which it recently acceded. The EU calls on the relevant Guinean authorities to take the necessary measures to have the sentence reviewed, in order to ensure that the fundamental rights of the accused are respected, and in particular that statements which they may have made under duress have not been used against them. Finally, the EU is concerned at the potential repercussions of the present situation on the health of the International Pact concluded in 1993 and renewed in 1997 and in 2001, between the Government and all political parties, and on the free play of democratic principles in Equatorial Guinea in the organisation of the forthcoming presidential elections in 2003."