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 Marios Matsakis, Thierry Cornillet, Toomas Savi
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on the situation in Madagascar

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

B6‑0280/2009

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Madagascar

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its former 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 of its Rules of Procedure;

• A.whereas following two months of bitter struggle, an army-backed coup d'état was committed in Madagascar by Mr Andry Rajoelina, ex-Mayor of the capital city on March 17, 2009;
• B.whereas a self-proclaimed High Authority of Transition, chaired by Mr Andry Rajoelina, suspended the National Assembly and the Senate and under pressure from the mutineers, the democratically elected President, Mr Marc Ravalomanana was forced to quit Madagascar;
• C.considérant l'arrestation arbitraire du Premier Ministre Manadofi-Rakotonirina, nommé par le Président élu, ainsi qu'un autre membre de son gouvernement;
• D.whereas the United Nations Security Council and the international organisations including Madagascar do not recognize this de facto regime and are calling for the restoration of constitutional governance;
• E.whereas Madagascar is suspended from the regional groupings - African Union, SADC (Southern African Development Community) - as well as from the international Organisation of the French-speaking countries and the Interparliamentary Union; whereas the European Union, the United States of America, Norway and France condemned the violation of the rule of law and the constitutional order and suspended assistance partnership;
• F.whereas the 12th Africa-EU Ministerial Troika meeting has called for a rapid holding of national elections and the return to constitutional order;
• G.whereas from the day when Mr Andry Rajoelina was installed as the facto Head of State, peaceful meetings are attracting everyday several tens of thousands or so people and are bloodily repressed by the military forces;
• H.considérant que la réaction de la population malgache qui a tout de suite manifesté en faveur de la démocratie, dès le samedi 21 mars 2009, date d'installation du Président de la Haute Autorité de la Transition, concrétise ainsi la demande d'un retour à la légitimité et la légalité revendiquées, entre autre, par les partisans du Président de la République Marc Ravalomanana;
• I.considérant que les deux Assemblées, à la suite d'un transfert de pleins pouvoirs, entachés d'illégalité, ne peuvent pas être suspendues et doivent toujours être considérées comme en exercice;
• J.whereas the country runs the risks of a civil clash as undemocratic entities, which are powerless to found civil peace, are now running the country through unconstitutional actions;   
• K.recalling military takeovers in recent months in PlaceNameMauritania and Guinea-Conakry and sanctions imposed by international community thereafter;
• L.whereas the majority of the population live on less than 1 USD a day and limited incomes have curtailed the ability of most households to have access to food, water and sanitation services, health and education;
• M.whereas the country has been hit by three consecutive years of drought and meagre harvest, soaring food prices and chronic food insecurity as well as by cyclones;
  • 1.strongly condemns the coup d'état and all attempts to seize power through undemocratic measures;
  • 2.calls for an immediate restoration of legality and constitutional order in the country and urges the Malagasy parties to comply fully with the provisions of the Constitution of Madagascar on a vacancy in the Presidency;
  • 3.calls for a helpful support from the international community to go along with the restoring of the legal order and to do everything possible to contribute to bring to an end the political violence in PlaceNameMadagascar;
  • 4.urges that there be a transitional process based on a consensus reached through wide participation of all stakeholders in Madagascar et par le moyen d'une consultation directe du peuple malgache;
  • 5.stresses the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country, and calls for a considerable increase in humanitarian aid which at the moment is less than generous; considers that the population must not be punished for the consequences of the political crisis;
  • 6.instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the legitimate Authorities of the Republic of Madagascar, the High Authority of Transition, the Secretary General of the UN, the African Union, SADC, ECHO, the Central Emergency Relief Funding (CERF) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).