MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

24.10.2005

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 José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra and Charles Tannock
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on human rights in Western Sahara

B6‑0568/2005

European Parliament resolution on human rights in Western Sahara

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on Western Sahara, and in particular its resolution of 14 April 2005,

–  having regard to its report on human rights in the world in 2004 (the Coveney report),

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

A.  greatly concerned at the situation of human rights in Western Sahara as described in reports from Amnesty International and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), referring to human rights violations (acts of violence, torture and ill-treatment) committed by Morocco against the Sahrawi civilian population since 21 May 2005,

1.  Welcomes the decision by the Polisario Front to release all the Moroccan prisoners of war; asks Morocco to respond by freeing the 151 Sahrawi prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law, and to shed light on the fate of more than 500 missing Sahrawis, of whom 43 have been discovered in communal graves close to the places where they were detained by the Moroccan authorities (Agdz and Kalaat Maggouna in Morocco); asks the Government of Morocco to hand over the bodies of the victims to their families, so that they may grieve for them and bury their relations in dignity;

2.  Calls for the release of the human rights supporters, Mrs Aminattou Haidar, Mr Ali Salem Tamek and 35 other Sahrawi political prisoners;

3.  Calls for the protection of the Sahrawi population, respect for their fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and freedom of movement, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international treaties and conventions on human rights;

4.  Calls on the Government of Morocco to allow free access to the territory of Western Sahara for independent observers, representatives of human rights organisations and the international press; deplores in this connection the expulsion of several European delegations, including one from Spain;

5.  Awaits with interest the result of the visit by its own delegation, which should go to Western Sahara as soon as possible;

6.  Supports a just and definitive solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, based on the rule of law and on international law, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council;

7.  Calls on the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front, the neighbouring states and the European Union to cooperate fully and sincerely with the United Nations with a view to completing the process of decolonisation of Western Sahara;

8.  Welcomes the appointment by the UN Secretary-General of his Personal Envoy to Western Sahara, in the person of Ambassador Van Valsum, and the designation of Mr Francisco Bastagali as Special Representative responsible for the UN Mission for the referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso), in so far as this could give rise to new moves to find a solution to the conflict;

9.  Calls on the Commission and Council to actively support the UN’s efforts to bring about a peaceful settlement of the conflict;

10.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, the UN Secretary-General, the President of the African Union, the Government of Morocco and the leadership of the Polisario Front.