MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Sudan
15.1.2019 - (2019/2512(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Bodil Valero, Barbara Lochbihler, Heidi Hautala, Florent Marcellesi, Bart Staes, Ernest Urtasun, Tilly Metz on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0053/2019
The European Parliament,
-having regard to its previous resolutions on Sudan,
-having regard to the Statement by the Troika (United States, Norway and the United Kingdom) and Canada on the response to continuing protests in Sudan,
-having regard to the statement from the spokesperson of the EEAS on ongoing protests in Sudan,
-having regard to the statements of 28 December 2018 from the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, and the UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Aristide Nononsi, on the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters in Sudan,
-having regard to the awarding of the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to human rights defender Salih Mahmoud Osman in 2007,
-having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
-having regard to the Universal declaration on Human Rights,
-having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,
-having regard to the outcome document of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Sudan of 21 September 2016 by the UN Human Rights Council,
-having regard to the Report of 27 July 2017 by the UN Human Rights’ Council Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan,
-having regard to the Cotonou agreement,
-having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas the increase in living costs and the economic crisis in Sudan has led to widespread protests since December 2018,
B. Whereas the Anti-Riot Police, the National Intelligence Security Services (NISS) and the paramilitary Sudanese Rapid Support Forces have fired live bullets, rubber bullets and tear gas and beaten peaceful protesters with sticks and batons, killing at least 40 protestors, including minors, according to international human rights’ organisations; whereas at least fifty people including six minors have been injured by gun shots after police fired live bullets on the protesters,
C. Whereas on 31 December 2018, one person reportedly died after being tortured while in custody of NISS,
D. Whereas in the framework of the protests, security forces have arrested and detained at least 437 Sudanese citizens including opposition political party leaders, students, doctors, advocates, activists and journalists;
E. Whereas dozens of journalists were detained and warned to stop reporting about the protests; whereas authorities have censored newspapers, confiscated print runs and blocked access to the internet,
F. Whereas all detainees are at risk of abuse and torture as the NISS is well-known for abuses against detainees, including prolonged detention without charge and verbal and physical abuse,
G. Whereas NISS has in particular targeted students in Khartoum originating from Darfour,
H. Whereas President Al-Bashir announced an investigation into the events, whereas similar investigations following the 2013 crackdown on protests did not result in any credible prosecution,
I. Whereas under Sudan's 2010 National Security Act, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) is allowed to detain suspects for up to four and a half months without any form of judicial review,
J. Whereas the Sudanese security forces are benefitting from legal immunity, resulting in widespread impunity for their acts,
K. Whereas two arrest warrants for President al-Bashir were issued in 2009 and 2010 by the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing him of responsibility for war crimes, crimes against humanity and acts of genocide, and whereas, although Sudan is not a state party to the Rome Statute, UN Security Council Resolution 1593 (2005) requires it to cooperate with the ICC,
L. Whereas the EEAS has not publicly condemned the brutal repression of the demonstrations in Sudan, on the contrary to the Troika formed by the United States, Norway and the UK, supported by Canada,
M. Whereas the Troika has threatened to downgrade its relations with Sudan; whereas no such statement has been made by the EEAS,
N. Whereas in Sudan, the EU supports a mix of development and humanitarian assistance, but within the framework of the EU-Horn of Africa migration route initiative also the country's highly controversial border control and counter-trafficking and counter-smuggling operations, inter alia via the “Regional Operational Centre in Khartoum (ROCK)” project;
O. Whereas the EU keeps high-level contact with the Sudanese government, including visits from Commissioners and HR/VP Mogherini to Sudan,
1. Is appalled by yet another wave of repression from Sudanese security forces in the context of peaceful protests,
2. Urges the Government of Sudan to respect the peoples’ rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression as guaranteed in international standards and UN treaties ratified by Sudan and refrain from using excessive force to disperse protests,
3. Calls for the investigation announced by President Al-Beshir to be credible and impartial; demands that those responsible for the killings, arbitrary arrests and torture be brought to justice,
4. Is particularly worried about the fate of 32 university students of Darfuri origin arrested on 23 December 2018 by Sudanese authorities who have been paraded in front of the media and reportedly accused of being trained in Israel and being blamed for the on-going protest,
5. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the practice of torture and ill-treatment towards any detained persons, including human rights defenders; insists that all detainees’ conditions comply with international standards, including the United Nations’ Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment;
6. Calls upon the Government of Sudan immediately to release all journalists, political opposition leaders, human rights activists, and other protesters currently in detention without charge or trial, and to allow those facing charges full access to legal representation,
7. Deplores the threats against journalists covering the protests and all other action, like censorship and confiscations of print-runs, aiming at preventing the Sudanese press to report about the events,
8. Requests the government of Sudan to take concrete measures to reform the current legal framework, which infringes on the exercise of political and civil rights and fundamental freedoms; considers that priority should be given to withdrawing enforcement powers, including arrest and detention, from officers of the National Security Service, in line with the information-gathering and advisory role envisioned by the Sudan National Dialogue, and to ensuring its compliance with international standards;
9. Calls on the Sudanese government to review its National Security Act, which allows the detention of suspects for up to four and half months without any form of judicial review,
10. Calls on the Government of Sudan to repeal the extensive immunities it has stipulated in Sudanese legislation that are protecting government officials and authorities from prosecution,
11. Strongly regrets that the EEAS has failed to clearly condemn the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations and the massive killing of demonstrators; underlines the discrepancy in comparison to statements from the Troika and UN experts; notes that this has become a policy pattern since the reengagement of the EU with Sudan on migration issues;
12. Is concerned that EU and individual Member States’ cooperation with Sudan on migration will embolden the regime and reinforce its ability to control and oppress people, for example by strengthening surveillance capacities, including at borders and by supplying equipment, such as biometric equipment; calls on the EU and Member States to immediately stop any cooperation with Sudanese security bodies, as is the case in the “Regional Operation Centre in Khartoum (ROCK)” EUTF project,
13. Deplores the high level visits by EU officials to Sudan, like the recent visit from HR/VP Mogherini; calls on the EU and Member States to return dialogue with the government to working level, and not ministerial status, until such time as the repression of the protests stops and there is clear and verifiable proof of significant improvements of the human rights situation in the country,
14. Reminds Sudan about its obligations as a UN member and urges it to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1593 (2005) which requires cooperation with the ICC,
15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government of Sudan, the African Union, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the Pan African Parliament.