MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

4.7.2005

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 Margaret Auken, Raul Romeva, Marie Hélène Aubert and Frithjof Schmidt
on the situation in Ethiopia

B6-0417/2005

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Ethiopia

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to Rule 115 of its Rules of Procedure,

• A.Worried by the recent post-election violent crackdown on opposition party leaders and members of Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) and United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), Addis Abeba university students, peaceful civilians, human rights defenders, journalists; whereas altogether several thousand people are reported detained, mostly in undesignated prisons,
• B.Whereas the security forces opened fire indiscriminately on large crowds of unarmed civilians, killing at least 36 people and wounding more than 100 in Addis Abeba,
• C.Disturbed by the murder of an elected member of parliament Mr. Tesfaye Adana Jara who was a member of the Oromo National Congress and the UEDF and was shot by police in Arsi, 180 km south of Addis Abeba,
• D.Whereas six human rights defenders, members of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, Andargachew Tsege, former member of the ruling party and deputy mayor of Addis Abeba and many others supporters of the CUD and UEDF have been detained without charge,
• E.Whereas the Federal Commissioner of Police announced that 690 have been released without charge, 3,130 are still detained at Ziway military camp without charge and 2,000 Addis Abeba University students are still in detention,
• F.Whereas the mass arrest and the arbitrary detention of members of the CUD and UEDF are still continuing in different parts of the country and the detainees have been held incommunicado without charge or access to legal counsel and without being presented before a court within 48 hours in accordance with Ethiopian law,
• G.Worried by the condition of detainees in Zewai camp which is not a designated place of custody and where the risks of contracting malaria, HIV AIDS and other diseases are high because of overcrowding, poor medical facilities and poor hygiene,
• H.Recalling that the pre-election period and the day of the election were overwhelmingly peaceful and that, despite some irregularities, the election was held without major confrontation between the government and opposition parties,
• I.Whereas the government has withdrawn Voice of America and Deutsche Welle journalists' accreditations thereby further curtailing the right to collect and transmit information which amounts to restricting freedom of expression,
• 1.Condemns the government security forces for the violent repression against civilians and opposition leaders and supporters and for the killing of at least 36 persons,
• 2.Considers that it is the government's duty and full responsibility to guarantee the safety and security of its citizens and that of newly elected parliament members and urges the government to take the necessary measures to stop harassment of opposition political party members, human rights activists and independent journalists,
• 3.Calls upon the Ethiopian government to respect international conventions on human rights and freedom of press and restore accreditation to all local correspondents of Voice of America and Deutsche Welle,
• 4.Calls for the establishment of an independent and impartial inquiry committee to fully investigate the deaths of at least 36 people shot dead by police during the post-election violence in mid June and to bring to court those responsible for the killings,
• 5.Calls on the Ethiopian government to release the six human rights defenders, members of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council and Andargachew Tsege - former member of the ruling party and deputy mayor of Addis Abeba who returned from the UK recently - as well as all members and supporters of the CUD and UEDF who have been detained without charge,
• 6.Welcomes the release of some 690 detainees arrested without charge as well as the government's announcement that the detainees at the Ziway military camp will now have access to their families and to International Committee of the Red Cross,
• 7.Calls on the Ethiopian authorities to bring before the court or to release thousands of detainees who were rounded up by the security forces with out further delay ,
• 8.Calls on the government to guarantee that detainees will not be subjected to torture, ill treatment or enforced disappearance and that their rights to have access to their families, medical care and legal counsel will be respected in conformity with the international conventions on Human rights,
• 9.Calls on the Ethiopian government and all political parties to fully respect the agreement signed on 10 June aiming at ensuring that the current electoral process is concluded in a transparent manner and to the satisfaction of all parties involved and in a manner which must be credible in the eyes of Ethiopian people,
• 10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Ethiopian government, to the two main opposition parties, the Council, the Commission and the AU.