Strasbourg, 07/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - With three resolutions adopted on Thursday 6 September in Strasbourg, the European Parliament condemned the renewed military repression this summer in Burma, urged the Bangladesh government to step up the pace in bringing back democracy to the country, and called on the international community to continue to ensure financing of the Special Court set up in Sierra Leone to judge war crimes.
Burma/Myanmar: The Parliament adopted a resolution whereby it calls on the governments of the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Italy and Slovakia, which are all members of the Security Council, to make a concerted effort to introduce and obtain support for a resolution on Burma at the next session of the Security Council. It mainly deplores the way about 100 human rights supporters and peaceful protestors were directly arrested for protesting about the rise in fuel prices on 15 August (a rise estimated at 500%). At the same time, it calls for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all those who have been arrested since the protests began, and also demands the “immediate and unconditional release” of Aung San Suu Kyi”. The Parliament expresses deep concern about the military build-up in Rangoon and the violent attacks by security forces and proxy civilian organisations. MEPs therefore urge China and India and also Russia to use their considerable economic and political leverage over the Burmese regime in order to bring about substantial improvements in the country and, in any case, to cease the supply of weaponry and other strategic resources. They call on businesses that invest in Burma to ensure that, in carrying out their projects, human rights are genuinely respected and, if human rights abuses do occur, to suspend their activities in Burma. Despite welcoming the renewal of EU targeted sanctions, which failed however to achieve the desired impact, they call on the Council to analyse the weaknesses in the present sanctions system and to establish other measures for greater effectiveness. They also call on foreign ministers of member states to discuss measures for strengthening the Council common position on Burma.
Bangladesh: In its resolution, the Parliament urges the government of Bangladesh to act in accordance with the rule of law and calls for the process of restoring democracy to be speeded up. After the state of emergency decreed on 11 January 2007 and the postponement of legislative elections, the government in power brought in repressive measures to fight against corruption, including a ban on all political activity, the detention of charging of over 160 political leaders, including three former prime ministers and more than 100,000 civilians, MEPs say with regret. They express deep concern about the disproportionate response of the military and the police against the student protests which erupted late August 2007 at Dhaka university, and also express deep concern about the controversial arrest and current arbitrary detention of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, who was arrested in July, and the president of the National Bangladesh Party (BNP), Khaleda Zia. They especially call on the Bangladesh authorities to allow access to all tribunals by international human rights organisations, to ascertain that proceedings are fair and impartial. MEPs call on the government to speed up preparations for new elections and on the EU to grant technical support to the authorities to assist them in the organisation of the elections. Above all, they want the EU election observation mission to resume its long-term activities as soon as possible and call on the Council and Commission to monitor carefully the human rights and political situation in Bangladesh in the light of recent events and to make representations concerning the continuance of the state of emergency.
Sierra Leone: In a resolution adopted by 69 votes to 0 and one abstention, the Parliament declares it fears that the funds available will not be sufficient to give the Special Court for Sierra Leone a decent working environment, and is deeply concerned that this will impede both the fight against impunity and, in particular, prejudice the trial of Charles Taylor, thus leading to failure of the reconciliation process and lasting peace in Sierra Leone and throughout Western Africa. The Court was jointly set up by the UN and the government of Sierra Leone in 2002 after a long and bloody civil war lasting more than ten years. MEPs warn that, if the Special Court does not receive adequate funding, efforts deployed by the international community to contribute to restoring peace in Sierra Leone and punishing crimes committed during the war will be “seriously discredited”. MEPs therefore call on all countries, including EU member states, to continue to pay a contribution to the Special Court for Sierra Leone so that it may carry out its work successfully. They therefore call on the UN secretary general, in consultation with the UN Security Council, to examine all the funding mechanisms possible to allow the Special Court to carry out its essential work. (bc)