MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

5.5.2009

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Eoin Ryan, Adam Bielan
on behalf of the UEN Group
on the situation in Madagascar

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0271/2009

B6‑0284/2009

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Madagascar

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on Madagascar;

–  having regard to the Declarations by the Presidency on behalf of the EU of 17 and 20 March 2009;

–  having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure;

A.  Whereas Madagascar gained its independence from PlaceNameFrance in 1960 and has experienced assassinations, military coups and disputed elections ever since;

B.  After losing support of the military and under intense pressure from Rajoelina, President Ravalomanana resigned on 17 March 2009;

C.  Whereas this unconstitutional change of Government is another serious setback in the democratisation process and reinforces the concern about the resurgence of the scourge of coups d’Etat in Africa;

D.  Whereas the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union, amongst other international entities does not recognise the new government, due to it being installed by force;

E.  Whereas the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union, which suspended Madagascar's membership on 20 March and the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Africa_Development_Community both criticised the forced resignation of Ravalomanana;

F.  Whereas if Madagascar does not restore constitutional order within six months, the African Union can impose sanctions; whereas the African Union has also suspended Mauritania and Guinea after military takeovers in recent months;

G.  Whereas within the framework of the Africa-EU Dialogue, the 12th Ministerial Meeting of the African and EU Troikas took place in Luxembourg on 28 April 2009 and called for a rapid holding of national elections and the return to constitutional order;

H.  Whereas the impact of cyclones, floods, drought, soaring food prices and chronic food insecurity of the last three consecutives years has been worsened by the protracted political crisis;

1.  Is seriously concerned by the recent political developments in Madagascar since the unconstitutional change that occurred on 17 March 2009 that led to the seizure of power through undemocratic measures;

2.  Calls for an immediate restoration of legality and constitutional order in the country and urges all the Malagasy political actors to comply fully with the provisions of the Constitution of Madagascar;

3.  Supports the initiatives taken by regional organisations and the decision of the AU to establish an operational arm of the Contact Group on Madagascar in Antananarivo, under the chairmanship of the Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mr. Ablassé Ouedraogo;

4.  Calls on the AU Special Envoy for Madagascar, in collaboration with representatives of the international community in Antananarivo and in light of the discussions that have already begun under the aegis of the AU and the UN, to make contact with all the Malagasy parties to agree with them on ways and means for a speedy return to constitutional order;

5.  Calls for support from the international community towards the restoration of republican legality and to do everything possible to bring to an end the political violence in Madagascar;

6.  Condemns the acts of violence and incitement to violence occurring in Madagascar, and stresses the need for the de facto authorities, including the security forces, to scrupulously respect human rights, and calls on all the Malagasy parties to refrain from any actions that could complicate the search for a solution;

7.  Stresses the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country, which has been worsened by the current political developments, and urges the international community to provide increased humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the people of Madagascar;

8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the Member States, ECHO, the Central Emergency Relief Funding (CERF), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the legitimate Authorities of the Republic of Madagascar, the High Authority of Transition, the Secretary General of the UN, the African Union and SADC.