Brussels, 25/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - In a joint resolution from the EPP-ED, PES, ALDE, UEN and Greens groups, adopted in Strasbourg on 24 April, the European Parliament, reflecting on the magnitude of the problems confronting Chad, the internal political problems and the massive influx of refugees from neighbouring countries, stressed the importance of national reconciliation as a way out of the political deadlock.
Assuring the Chadian people of “its solidarity”, the EP condemned the persecution and arbitrary arrest of opposition politicians and journalists. It called on the Chadian government to clarify the situation of any opposition politicians or journalists still being detained and to respect all the human rights instruments to which the country is a signatory.
Although the crises in neighbouring countries, Darfur and the Central African Republic, have had a considerable impact on Chad, the EP denounced any attempt by the Chadian government to “use Sudan and Darfur as a smokescreen for hiding political dissent within Chad, prolonging political unrest in the country”. Furthermore, it stated the importance of engaging as quickly as possible in real and comprehensive inter-Chadian dialogue, highlighting the need to bring rebel groups into the political process.
The EP also stressed the usefulness of the ESDP EUFOR Chad-RCA mission in guaranteeing the safety of refugee and displaced persons camps and humanitarian organisations. It regretted, however, that, in terms of its composition, EUFOR did not sufficiently reflect the diversity of the EU. It said, too, that more aid was needed from the international community. The EP called for human rights violations to be identified, reported, followed up and punished, and it gave its support to the UN mission to the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) whose role is to support the Chadian legal and prison systems and to train Chadian police in humanitarian protection. (E.H.)