JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
14.6.2006
- –John Bowis, José Ribeiro e Castro, João de Deus Pinheiro, Charles Tannock and Bernd Posselt, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
- –Pasqualina Napoletano, Ana Maria Gomes and Edite Estrela, on behalf of the PSE Group
- –Johan Van Hecke, Marios Matsakis and Anneli Jäätteenmäki, on behalf of the ALDE Group
- –Raül Romeva i Rueda and Frithjof Schmidt, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
- –Gintaras Didžiokas, on behalf of the UEN Group
- –Verts/ALE (B6‑0337/2006)
- –ALDE (B6‑0362/2006)
- –PPE-DE and PSE (B6‑0364/2006)
- –UEN (B6‑0367/2006)
European Parliament resolution on East Timor
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on East Timor,
– having regard to the statement on East Timor made by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on 31 May 2001,
– having regard to the briefing given by the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to the Security Council (5432nd meeting),
– having regard to Rule115 of its Rules of Procedure
A. whereas the country has been torn by violence since the dismissal in April of nearly 600 soldiers, a third of the total armed forces; and whereas on 28-29 April anarmed confrontation between the armed forces and the dismissed troops and supporting civilians caused a disputed number of fatalities,
B. whereas, following the unrest, riots and violence from gangs, many people have been killed, many more wounded, and tens of thousands of panicked residents have fled the capital and remain in the surrounding hills or have been displaced under the protection of the Church, the UN or embassies,
C. whereas, according to UN information, soldiers opened fire on unarmed police officers on 25 May 2006, killing nine and wounding 27 others,
D. whereas the political instability in East Timor is continuing, despite the resignation of the Interior Minister and the Defence Minister andother efforts made and measures adopted by the East Timorese authorities,
E. whereas protesters have been demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri,
F. whereas the deterioration in the dramatic security and political crisis has led the East Timorese authorities to request foreign troops to help control wanton violence and restore law and order,
G. encouraging the efforts undertaken by President Xanana Gusmão and Senior Minister Ramos Horta on behalf of the government, seeking the return of political and social stability, including talks with representatives of dismissed soldiers and police officers and agents who left their organisational structures in the presence of UN observers,
H. whereas the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has reported more than 100 000 displaced persons who were uprooted in recent weeks as a result of the turmoil sparked by the dismissal of a third of the armed forces and the fragmentation of the police force, and furthered by gang violence,
I. whereas the mandate of the UN mission in East Timor (currently UNOTIL), once numbered some 11,000 troops and civilian staff, but scaled back to 130 staff members, police and military advisers, is due to expire on 20 June, having been extended by the UN Security Council last May just for one month, despite the UN Secretary-General proposal that it should have been prolonged for one year;
J. whereas the level of unemployment in East Timor hovers around 80%, with 40% living under the poverty line and 60% aged 18 and under;
K. having regard to the inalienable sovereign rights of the people of East Timor, in particular over their natural resources,
1. Urges all parties in East Timor to refrain from violence, to be involved in an all-inclusive dialogue to settle political differences and to participate in the democratic process within the legal and constitutional framework, thus contributing to restoring social and political stability;
2. Welcomes the decision by the authorities of East Timor to call for an international inquiry into the events of 28-29 April, and 23-24-25 May, when armed confrontations between the East Timorese armed forces and previously dismissed soldiers and supporting civilians resulted in a disputed number of fatalities;
3. Urges the Government and the President of the Republic of East Timor to take all the necessary steps to put an end to violence and to restore a secure and stable environment in full compliance with the Constitution;
4. Notes that the role to be played by the international community, and in particular the United Nations and its Security Council, is of vital importance to the process of consolidation of the state of East Timor and its independence and sovereignty, and to the consolidation of democracy in this young nation;
5. Stresses that the process of gradual reduction of the UN mission in East Timor over the last four years must be reversed and asks for the urgent deployment of a UN-led police force to help restore stability, in accordance with the request of the East Timorese authorities;
6. Welcomes the extension of the UN’s mandate according to the Secretary-General's proposals and calls for peacekeeping units and civilian police units to remain in East Timor until the country's own armed forces and police can take over these tasks themselves;
7. Recommends, with due respect for the sovereign authorities of East Timor and the specificity of the mandate conferred on each one of the international forces currently in the country under UN supervision and monitoring, the establishment of efficient channels of horizontal communication and cooperation between international forces, in order to serve the best interests of the East Timorese people, the effective restoration of public order and a prompt return to full institutional normality;
8. Welcomes East Timor's admission to the ACP group of States;
9. Recognises East Timor's need for political, technical and financial support in rebuilding the infrastructure and administrative structures which are essential to resume the implementation of its development plan;
10. Calls on the European Union and international community to maintain and step up the support required to consolidate democracy and a democratic culture in East Timor, focusing on a multiparty culture and institution-building – namely the parliament, government, judiciary, security, defence and law enforcement forces – and to assist in the urgent extension of media coverage to the whole country, as well as in strengthening the education and health networks, with particular attention addressed to the needs of children and women;
11. Calls on the international community to substantially increase support for effective human rights monitoring in East Timor and to provide assistance for the development of local human rights groups as well as for local services for victims of abuses;
12. Calls on the EU Council and Commission to urge the East Timorese authorities to prohibit, disband and disarm any paramilitary groups, armed gangs and armed civilians, and to raise European concerns over police violence with the Government of East Timor in all official meetings and at the highest level;
13. Calls on the East Timor state representatives to uphold international human rights standards and to ensure that the police's and armed forces' treatment of citizens conforms to international human rights norms and standards;
14. Decides to send a European Parliament ad hoc delegation to East Timor next autumn to assess the political situation and examine the adequacy of EU assistance programs;
15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the state institutions of East Timor (namely the President, the Parliament and the Government), the Commission, the High Representative for the CFSP, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the UN Security Council.