MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
19.2.2008
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by José Ribeiro e Castro, Charles Tannock, Bernd Posselt, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Colm Burke, Tunne Kelam
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on East Timor
B6‑0093/2008
European Parliament resolution on East Timor
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on East Timor,
– having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the dismissal in April 2006 of nearly 600 soldiers in East Timor led to a very serious crisis in the country, characterised by armed confrontation between the armed forces and the dismissed troops, police disruption, riots and gang violence, where many people have been killed, many more wounded, and tens of thousands of people fled to the capital, where many of them still remain,
B. whereas, following a social and political stabilisation process, with a stronger engagement of international community under the auspices of the United Nations, responding to Timorese authorities appeals, free and peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections were held on 9 May 2007 and 30 June 2007,
C. whereas, former Prime Minister and Nobel Prize laureate José Ramos-Horta was elected President of East Timor and, following the parliamentary elections of June 2007, former President Xanana Gusmão became Prime Minister of the country on 6 August 2007, giving hope to a definitive stabilisation of the country and the full respect of the democratic institutions,
D. whereas, on 11 February 2008 rebel groups shot and seriously wounded East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta, who is in a critical condition in an Australian hospital, and opened fire on the prime minister Xanana Gusmão in separate but coordinated attacks against the leadership of the country,
E. whereas the state of emergency has been declared by the Timorese parliament and is still in place,
F. whereas these hideous attacks to Timorese democracy and leadership are still a consequence of the April 2006 crisis, making it evident that national authorities and international forces were unable in the meantime to insure public order and full respect of the rule of law in the country,
G. whereas criticism arose against the lack of compliance with judicial decisions regarding the violent incidents in 2006 and their responsible agents and national authorities and international forces didn’t want or were incapable to enforce them,
H. whereas qualified observers pointed out the lack of prompt response from the international forces in East Timor to the 11 February 2008 events, only praising the action of Guarda Nacional Republicana(GNR) forces,
I. whereas East Timor is a full member of the ACP group of States,
J. whereas both the European Union and the United Nations are publicly committed to support the independence of East Timor and democracy and rule of law in the country, which requires the consolidation of the State institutions and an exemplary behaviour on the part of East Timor neighbouring countries,
K. having regard to the inalienable sovereign rights of the people of East Timor, in particular over their natural resources,
1. Condemns vehemently the attempted assassination of President Ramos-Horta and wishes for his full recovery and quick return to the leadership of the country;
2. Condemns vehemently the simultaneous attack against Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, who escaped unhurt, and wishes that the Timorese government together with the President of the Republic in office and the Timorese National Parliament will be able to face and to overcome these renewed threats to East Timor stability and to ensure the respect of law and order and the normal functioning of the democratic institutions, according to the Timorese Constitution;
3. Supports the thorough investigation on the 11 February 2008 attacks, that aimed to kidnap or to assassinate the two East Timor’s main leaders; the investigation must clarify every detail of the apparently attempted coup d’Etat and the failure of the security system in the country, in order to effectively prevent another crisis in the future and to bring all suspects before justice;
4. Urges all parties in East Timor to refrain from violence, to be involved in an all-inclusive dialogue to settle political differences and to participate in the democratic process within the legal and constitutional framework, thus contributing to restoring social and political stability;
5. Urges all parties in East Timor not to try to take advantage of the fragile situation emerging from the 11 February events and to engage in the full respect and cooperation with the political bodies that emerged from the 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections;
6. Urges the main political forces in East Timor, in power and in opposition, to engage in a cross-party and national minded lasting understanding on core issues of the functioning of the State as the armed forces, the police and the judiciary system; offers the European Parliament cross-party openness and willingness to contribute and support such efforts and demarches between the East Timor parliamentary parties;
7. Reminds that the role to be played by the international community, and in particular the UN and its Security Council, is of vital importance to the process of consolidating the state of East Timor and its independence and sovereignty, and to strengthen democracy in this young nation;
8. Stresses the importance of an exemplary behaviour from the East Timor neighbouring countries respecting and favouring the stability in the Timorese society and the consolidation of the national democratic institutions; acknowledges the positive gestures of Indonesia since the recognition of East Timor independence and the decisions of Australia and others to help; asks the United Nations to pay attention and to follow closely this aspect;
9. Calls on the Council and Commission to urge the East Timor authorities and the UN system in the country to prohibit, disband and disarm any paramilitary groups, armed gangs and armed civilians;
10. Recommends that the decisions and orders of tribunals have to be promptly respected and fully enforced by the Timorese authorities, with the support, whenever necessary, of the international forces in the country;
11. Hopes that the United Nations will be able to quickly review the system deployed in East Timor, responding to the country’s authorities appeals and effective needs; the international forces sent to the country are only helpful and useful if they are ready to prevent violence, capable of prompt response to any incident that breaks democratic order and normality, and able to gain and strengthen the respect and trust on their action from the population and the main Timorese political forces.
12. Reaffirms the recognition East Timor's need for political, technical and financial support in rebuilding the infrastructure and administrative structures which are essential to resume the implementation of its development plan, as well in invigorating the Timorese economy and the promotion of employment;
13. Calls on the European Union and international community to maintain and step up its support to consolidate democracy and a democratic culture in East Timor, focusing on a multi-party culture and institution-building – namely the parliament, the government, the judiciary, security, defence and law enforcement forces – and to assist in the urgent extension of media coverage to the whole country, as well as in strengthening the education and health networks;
14. Calls on the Commission to conclude as soon as possible the installation of the full fledge delegation in Dili;
15. Recommends sending an ad hoc Parliamentary delegation to East Timor to reassess the political situation, express solidarity to democratic forces and institutions and examine the adequacy of EU assistance programmes;
16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the East Timor’s state authorities (namely, the president, the parliament and the government), the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative, and the UN Security Council.