MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

12.12.2006

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 Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Adam Jerzy Bielan, Marcin Libicki, Ryszard Czarnecki, Roberts Zīle,
on behalf of the UEN Group
on the coup d'état in Fiji

B6‑0662/06

European Parliament resolution on the coup d'état in Fiji

The European Parliament,

• -having regard to its previous resolutions, especially that of 8 September 2000 on the situation in Fiji,
• -having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
• A.whereas Fiji's armed forces have staged the country's fourth coup in 20 years on 5 December 2006 after a long-running political crisis,
• B.whereas Commodore Frank Bainimarama during the seizure of power announced himself as president, armed soldiers dismissed the government accusing them of bribery and corruption and seized the Parliament, forcing an indefinite adjournment in the Upper House, the Senate,
• C.whereas The Speaker of the Lower House, Pita Nacuva, was detained and number of key public officials who had spoken against the military were sacked,
• D.whereas retired Fiji army physician, Jona Baravilalala Senilagakali, has been sworn in as interim prime minister,
• E.whereas Jona Baravilala Senilagakali has admitted that toppling the country's elected government was illegal and expressed the hopes that a democratic election can be held in Fiji; he stressed that military rule might continue for years from now,
• F.whereas Laisenia Qarase called for non-violent protests while the Commodore Bainimarama has threatened to crack down on any uprising with force,
• G.whereas the general elections held in May 2006 were deemed credible by international observers, including notably a substantial European Union Election Observation Mission;
• H.whereas a former British colony, Fiji had its Commonwealth membership suspended in protest at its recent military coup as a result of a meeting of foreign ministers from 9 Commonwealth countries last Friday in London,
• I.whereas Britain suspended bilateral and military assistance to Fiji,
• J.whereas Australia and New Zealand have announced sanctions, including a halt to defense cooperation and a travel ban on Bainimarama and other military officers,
• K.whereas the international community expressed its condemnation of the coup;
• 1.Strongly deplores the seizure of power in the Republic of Fiji by the military leadership;
• 2.Calls for the immediate reinstatement of the legitimate authority in Fiji and its return to constitutional rule through peaceful means and inclusive dialogue as early as possible;
• 3.Calls on immediate and unconditional resignation of Commodore Frank Bainimarama;
• 4.Urges all parties involved to restrain from any action, which may further increase tension and evoke the violence in the Republic of Fiji;
• 5.Expresses serious concerns with regard to the unconstitutional replacement of Fiji's freely-elected Government;
• 6.Strongly believes that in a democracy, the military must be subordinate to the elected civilian leadership;
• 7.Calls on Fiji to guarantee fundamental freedoms for its people, and also abide by international obligations covering civil, political and other right;
• 8.Notes the decision by the foreign ministers of Commonwealth countries on the suspension of the Fiji Commonwealth membership;
• 9.Regrets that the ethnic Fijians, like the ones who staff the hotels and make souvenirs will be those who will suffer the most as a result of the international sanctions and travel warnings;
• 10.Calls for the Member States and the EU to use all means to help resolve the dispute in an orderly, peaceful manner;
• 11.If no real progress has been made towards the restoration of constitutional democratic government in Fiji, calls on Member States and the Commission to suspend military assistance to Fiji and to consider specific sanctions targeted at the military, including reassessing the role the Fijian military has hitherto played in protecting peace and democracy abroad, given that those same troops have removed their own government from power;
• 12.Recommends that the European Union suspend the cooperation agreement signed with Fiji in 2000 as part of the ACP-EU framework;
• 13.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and applicant states, the legitimate government of Fiji as well as the “Interim Civilian Administration”, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the ACP-EU Council of Ministers and the ACP-EU Joint Assembly.