MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

11.04.2005

tabled for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115(5) of the Rules of Procedure
by Anna Fotyga
On behalf of the UEN Group
On Political violence and terrorism in Bangladesh

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B6-0266/2005

European parliament resolution on political violence and terrorism in Bangladesh

The European parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Bangladesh and especially resolution B5‑0609/2002,

- having regard to the EU-Bangladesh Cooperation Agreement,

- having regard to the renewed political violence in Bangladesh in recent months,

- having regard to the report of the US Department of State,

A.  Noting that the EU-Bangladesh Cooperation Agreement is based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, and that violation of Article 1 is a breach that can lead to suspension of the Agreement,

B.  Noting, furthermore, that Bangladesh has obligations under international law as a State party to both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,

• 1.Condemns the bomb attack, earlier this year, on a political rally in Habiganj, north-eastern Bangladesh, which killed four members of the Awami League party, including former Finance Minister Shah A.M.S. Kibria, and injured more than 70;
• 2.Expresses sincere sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of all the victims of this heinous attack;
• 3.Deplores that this incident was the latest in a disturbing series of often deadly attacks on prominent leaders of the political opposition and civil society and was the second fatal bombing attack on an Awami League political rally in the last six months;
• 4.Strongly believes that this incident is an assault on the principles of free speech, democracy and peaceful political opposition;
• 5.Is alarmed by the fact that Government security forces were engaged in politically motivated and extrajudicial killings, and that in its efforts to suppress dissent, the BNP/Jamaat-i-Islami government has engaged in mass arrests of opposition party members prior to their planned public rallies;
• 6.Deplores harassment of religious minorities and the increasing acts of religious intolerance, including towards Christians in the country, once known for being a moderate Muslim-majority country;
• 7.Shares the belief that the permissiveness of at least some within the Bangladesh government and the police in allowing violent groups to operate unconstrained, has led to a climate of impunity that encourages a continuation of such violence;
• 8.Deplores the apparent failure to investigate into similar attacks which took place previously, and the lack of decisive action by the Government of Bangladesh to bring to justice the perpetrators of the last assassination;
• 9.Calls for an independent, impartial and transparent inquiry into the deadly grenade attack that killed former finance minister Shah A.M.S. Kibria, preferably under the auspices of the United Nations;
• 10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Government of Bangladesh.