MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Nepal

15.6.2010

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 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Thomas Mann, Filip Kaczmarek, Cristian Dan Preda, Monica Luisa Macovei, Tunne Kelam, Sari Essayah, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Elena Băsescu on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0383/2010

B7‑0388/2010

European Parliament resolution on Nepal

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

–   having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of 1966,

–   having regard to the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials of 1990,

–   having regard to the statement of 29 May 2010 by UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon on the political situation in Nepal,

–  having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas, according to the Global Peace Index (GPI), Nepal has become less peaceful over the last few years, especially in 2009 and 2010,

B. whereas many of the terms of the peace agreement concluded in 2006, after a decade-long civil war between Maoists and the government, remain unfulfilled,

C. whereas the Nepalese Constituent Assembly failed to draft the Constitution by the prescribed date of 28 May 2010 and as a precondition to prolonging the negotiations on the new constitution Prime Minister Kumar Nepal had to resign,

D. whereas formal talks between party leaders of the party-alliance and CPN-UML on forming a new government have resumed,

E. whereas the ongoing political instability and corruption has a crucial impact on the social, economic and touristic development of Nepal,

F. whereas the situation of refugees in Nepal, in particular the Tibetans, gives grounds for more than concern,

1. Expresses deep concern about the non-existence of a constitution based on democratic values and human rights and expresses its solidarity with the Nepali people and all families who have lost their relatives through the violence and terrorism of the last years;

2. Urges the Constituent Assembly (CA) and all the political actors involved to find a clear structure for the new constitution, to establish a real federal democracy by following the standards set out by the UNHCR and to respect the new deadline which was extended by one year on 28 May 2010;

3. Calls on all parties to facilitate and promote the Constitutional Committee's (CC) work on the future roadmap since the term extension of the Constituent Assembly (CA); stresses the need for a clear and public communication of all the agreed items so that the citizens of Nepal are informed about the progress of the negotiations in the last few months;

4. Urges all parties to engage and continue the constructive dialogue in order to seek a durable and competent government, to solve the current crisis by peaceful and democratic means;

5. Welcomes the decision of the Nepali Congress (NC) of 31 May 2010 to commit to a national unity government open to all political parties, including the main opposition party UCPN;

6. Calls on the UCPN (Maoists) to come up with constructive plans and to find a way to integrate Maoist combatants into the society, including the groups residing in the UNMIN-monitored cantonments;

7. Urges the Nepali Government to ensure standards of protection for all refugees and to continue with efforts to prevent and reduce statelessness, in particular of Bhutanese people, in accordance with international standards, and to sign the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol;

8. 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 Nepal, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.