Joint motion for a resolution - RC-B6-0282/2006Joint motion for a resolution
RC-B6-0282/2006

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

16.5.2006

pursuant to Rule 115(5) of the Rules of Procedure, by
replacing the motions by the following groups: on Nepal

Procedure : 2006/2573(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
RC-B6-0282/2006
Texts tabled :
RC-B6-0282/2006
Texts adopted :

European Parliament resolution on Nepal

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on Nepal,

–  having regard to the public hearing on the situation in Nepal held by its Subcommittee on Human Rights on 20 February 2006,

–  having regard to the support of the Commission, as expressed on 3 January 2006, for the restoration of peace and democracy in Nepal,

–  having regard to the Declaration of 4 May 2006 by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union concerning developments in Nepal,

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

A.  recalling that on 1 February 2005 King Gyanendra, in an unconstitutional act, dismissed the government, assumed direct power and declared a state of emergency,

B.  whereas violently repressed pro-democracy and peace rallies finally forced the King to abandon the de facto military rule on 24 April, to reinstate Parliament, and to hand over the administration to a multi-party government formed by the seven-party alliance,

C.  whereas it is hoped that the return to democracy will mean the end of a civil war which has lasted for 10 years and has cost over 13 000 lives,

D.  whereas the excessive action of the security forces drew heavy criticism from the international community, including the EU and the UN, since many people were killed during the protests and hundreds were injured and arrested,

E.  whereas the new multi-party Government of Nepal, chaired by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, has announced that it will hold peace talks, thus responding positively to the ceasefire announcement by the CPN-M (Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists), which the King had earlier rejected,

F.   whereas the reinstated House of Representatives has placed itself in line with the 12-point agreement reached between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists last November, including holding constituent assembly elections for drafting a new constitution,

G.   whereas the new government annulled the municipal elections conducted by the previous government on 8 February 2006, arrested five former royal government ministers, including the home and foreign ministers and the government's most visible spokesman; whereas it has also appointed a judicial commission to investigate charges of excessive use of force by state security forces against the demonstrators and suspended the heads of three security forces on charges of excessive use of force and human rights violations in suppressing the pro-democracy movement in the Himalayan kingdom,

H.   whereas the government has rescinded 6 of 19 of the King's laws on media freedom, land reform and aid groups,

I.  whereas the most fundamental rights of children are being violated routinely in Nepal and the EU has condemned Nepal's Maoist rebels for using children as soldiers,

J.  whereas the Nepalese Government's decision from November 2005 to suspend issuing exit permits to Tibetan refugees for their onward travel to India has left hundreds of Tibetans stranded in Nepal, and has exacerbated severe overcrowding at a shelter for Tibetans in Kathmandu,

1.  Strongly welcomes Nepal's return to democratic rule, which was achieved thanks to the engagement of millions of citizens in a people's movement;

2.  Conveys its deepest sympathy to the families of all who have lost their lives or have been seriously injured during the protests;

3.  Welcomes recent developments in Nepal encouraging a return to political stability, including:

  • -the restoration of Parliament;   
  • -the establishment of an interim government on 2 May and the initiative to set up a Constituent Assembly to draft a new Constitution;
  • -the announcement of a unilateral three month's ceasefire;
  • -the reaffirmed commitment from the 7-party Coalition and the Maoists to the 12-point peace agreement of November 2005;

4.  Believes that the restoration of the sovereignty of the parliament's democratic authorities is only a first step towards real peace and a lasting democracy, and that substantial progress needs to be made in a number of areas in order to consolidate the situation:

  • -democratic control of the Royal Nepalese Army and local militia to end the human rights abuses;
  • -addressing the root causes of the conflict and ensuring that there is greater economic prosperity and a better redistribution of wealth for all throughout the country;
  • -respect for minority rights;
  • -the necessary devolution of power to the regional and local levels;
  • -a more representative electoral system;

5.   Welcomes the three months' ceasefire announced by the Maoists and encourages them to go further, to permanently renounce violence and to return to the political arena;   

6.  Calls for parliamentary elections to be held at an early stage, and suggests an EU election observation mission; in the meantime, calls for the sending of an ad hoc European Parliament delegation to assess the situation and to conduct talks with all relevant forces;

7.  Is deeply concerned about alleged extrajudicial killings, widespread torture, impunity and other human rights violations committed by both sides; calls on the Nepalese government and other parties to the conflict to do all in their capacity to ensure full and transparent investigations of human rights violations, including unresolved cases of forced disappearances, and insists that adequate sentencing of those convicted will be essential for the re-establishment of social peace;

8.  Stresses that all restrictions on media freedom should be lifted immediately, and that all political prisoners, including journalists and human rights activists, should be released;

9.  Welcomes the fact that the government has already revoked a number of controversial royal ordinances curbing press freedom and controlling non-governmental organisations;

10.  Reiterates its support for the UN Office of Human Rights in Nepal, established since April 2005, which must continue to carefully monitor the human rights situation;

11.   Supports Nepal's new government's decision to freeze the previous administration's purchase of military planes and weapons and the recruitment of soldiers, and calls on the Council and the Member States to continue the freeze on all military aid;

12.  Calls on the international community to establish a Contact Group, to be made up of Nepal's key partners and international organisations (the EU, the US, India and the UN), to provide coordinated international action with regard to Nepal; proposes that the European Parliament appoint a special rapporteur to monitor the situation;

13.  Calls on the Council, the Commission and the Member States to support the peace process by:

  • -assisting all armed groups to demobilise and disarm;
  • -using development and humanitarian assistance to consolidate peace and economic development;
  • -sending human rights observers;
  • -encouraging international financial institutions to give priority to macroeconomic stability and transparency, rather than forcing ambitious economic reform proposals on a fragile democracy;

14.   Urges the Council and Commission to work closely with the UN and other members of the international community to support the Nepalese Government on the road to democracy;

15.   Calls on the Council and Commission to offer further technical, logistical and financial assistance to Nepal, including practical planning for a ceasefire monitoring mission in cooperation with other donors, should this be requested by Nepal;

16.  Calls on the Council to consider appointing a Special Representative for Nepal; his or her role would be to encourage greater political engagement in Nepal on the part of the EU and to sharpen its political analysis and level of understanding during the delicate transition;

17.  Calls again for a follow-up to the 2002 London International Conference, to be organised by the Contact Group of key partners, which should set out the principles and values needed to underpin a peace process in Nepal; welcomes the plan of Nepali civil society activists to start the process by organising their own conference in Kathmandu this coming year;

18.  Calls on the Nepalese Government to protect Tibetan refugees in transit to India, and end the suspension of exit permits without delay;

19.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Member States, the Commission, the interim Government of Nepal, King Gyanendra, the Governments of India and the other member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the UN Secretary-General, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.