MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
22.4.2008
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Thierry Cornillet, Johan Van Hecke, Marielle De Sarnez, Marios Matsakis
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on Chad
B6‑0202/2008
European Parliament resolution on Chad
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the its resolution of 26 September 2007 on the ESDP operation in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR),
– having regard to la situation humanitaire préoccupante suite au conflict in Darfur and the wider regional impact, in particular on the eastern part of Chad and the northern part of the CAR, and to its resolutions thereon adopted in 2007,
– having regard to the decision of the European Council on 29 January 2008 to launch the military bridging operation EUFOR Chad/RCA in Chad and CAR,
– having regard to UN Security Council resolution 1778 of 25 September 2007, which provides for the deployment of a multidimensional international presence in eastern Chad and the north-eastern CAR including the ESDP mission EUFOR CHAD/RCA,
– having regard to the UN Security Council Presidential Statement of 4 February 2008 that condemns attacks against Chad's government,
– having regard to the African Union decisions of 2 February 2008 on Chad,
– having regard to the signing in N’Djamena on 13 August 2007, in the presence of the international community and of the Chadian Head of State, President Idriss Deby Itno, of the political agreement with a view to the reinforcement of the democratic process in Chad by all relevant Chadian political parties in the majority and in the opposition,
– having regard to the report presented on 10 August 2007 by the UN Secretary-General, recommending that a multi-dimensional presence be deployed in eastern Chad and north-eastern CAR, in order to improve the security of refugees and displaced populations, facilitate the supply of humanitarian aid and create the conditions for reconstruction and development work in these areas,
– having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1769 of 31 July 2007 establishing, for an initial period of twelve months, an AU/UN hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID),
– having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas an armed struggle between the Chadian army and the rebels of Unified Military Command that include: Union of Forces for Democracy (UFDD), Rally of Forces for Change (RFC), UFDD-Fundamental and its recent escalation in N'Djamena have been the harshest in Chad since President Deby took power in December 1990,
B. preoccupied by the security situation in the eastern part of Chad, which has deteriorated since 2006 as a result of clashes between Chadian security forces and Chadian rebels, and incursions of Janjaweed militias and armed groups from Sudan, to which banditry and attacks on humanitarian organisations must be added,
C. Whereas food distribution in the East is the ultimate priority and donor contributions are urgently required to ensure that purchases are completed in the coming months, and that the food reaches Chad on time;
D. whereas about 238,000 refugees from Sudan, 44,600 refugees from the Central African Republic and 170,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are hosted in twelve camps along Chad's eastern border with Sudan,
E. whereas according to the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Opeartion, Jean-Marie Guehenno, the UN Hybrid mission in Sudan is many months from full deployment and the situation in the region is deteriorating dramatically,
F. whereas over 4.5 million people in Darfur and eastern Chad now live in need of humanitarian aid; whereas 185,000 Chadians have fled their homes as the conflict has become increasingly regional; whereas the number of Chadians displaced by violence has quadrupled in the past year,
G. whereas the fighting is hampering the operations of the World Food Programme (WFP) in eastern Chad, denying it access to some refugee camps and delaying food dispatches to others; whereas the fighting near Farchana, where three refugee camps are located, has made humanitarian operations particularly difficult; whereas on at least one occasion a WFP-contracted truck loaded with WFP food was attacked by armed bandits;
H. whereas long-term stability in Sudan, Chad and the CAR calls for respect for human rights, the rule of law and good governance,
I. Worried by the arrest of political opposition parties senior leaders, journalists and ordinary supporters of opposition parties,
J. whereas the fighting has been concentrated mainly in the Farchana, Iriba, Biltine and Guereda areas, located to the north and east of the major town of Abeché, the main operational base for at least twelve refugee camps; whereas the areas near refugee camps to the south of Abeché such as Goz Beida have also become less secure,
K. whereas according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) humanitarian aid activities are being threatened mostly by armed robbery and banditry in the region, and military offensives are exacerbating crime; whereas the increasing incidence of banditry in Eastern Chad is forcing humanitarian agencies to reduce staff and movements in key towns, further restricting their ability to provide much-needed humanitarian assistance,
L. whereas on 21 January 2008 European Union Commissioner Louis Michel has expressed the EU's readiness to to play a mediator role in the conflict,
M. whereas the humanitarian need continues to grow and many refugee camps function over their capacity while the influx of people remains,
N. whereas on 29 January 2008 the Council launched the operation EUFOR Chad/RCA, designed to contribute to protecting civilians in danger, particularly refugees and displaced persons, to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the free movement of humanitarian personnel by helping to improve security in the area of operations, and to contribute to protecting UN personnel, facilities, installations and equipment and ensuring the security and freedom of movement for its staff and UN-associated personnel,
O. whereas any domestic instability in Chad - together with the insecurity of the border region of eastern Chad, Darfur and the Central African Republic - will also have a negative effect and impact on the EUFOR CHAD/RCA operation once it is deployed,
P. whereas the UN Security Council has reaffirmed its full support for the European Union force EUFOR Chad/RCA and the contribution it would provide to protect vulnerable civilian population;
Q. whereas on 2 February 2008 the African Union mandated the Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, and President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo to engage the Chadian parties with a view to ending the fighting and to initiating efforts aimed at seeking a lasting solution to the crisis;
R. whereas on the 2 and 3 February 2008 reportedly a number of prominent Chad opposition politicians were arrested;
S. whereas the war crime of sexual violence, including rape used as a tool of war, is prevalent in refugee camps and elsewhere in this conflict region, with women and girls being most vulnerable to attack,
1. Emphasises that the rebel attacks on N'Djamena and overall violence in Chad underscore the urgent need for the deployment of EUFOR CHAD/RCA without further delay; underlines that the EU Member States and the UN have a 'responsibility to protect' refugees and internally displaced persons in this region; stresses that these forces must have and use all means necessary, in full compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law, to protect civilians at risk;
2. Reiterates the importance of the neutrality of the European force and the potential risks involved in the force being perceived as a French-led operation; therefore notes with appreciation the contributions provided by 14 countries that have made contributions in the generation of EUFOR and urges relevant commanders to conduct a comprehensive communication strategy in order to communicate its neutral mandate to the local population;
3. Emphasises the regional dimension of the Darfur crisis and the urgent need to address the destabilising impact of the crisis on the humanitarian and security situation in neighbouring countries, and reiterates its willingness to carry out this EU military bridging operation in support of a multidimensional UN presence;
4. Recalls its resolution of 26 September 2007 endorsing the launch of an ESDP operation in eastern Chad and the northern CAR, and notes with regret the delay of the deployment that is now expected to reach its full potential only by May 2008;
5. Welcomes the Commission funding of over €50 million for this mission, including €10 million from the Instrument for Stability for the UN police training component of this peace-keeping operation;
6. Notes an escalation of deliberate and targeted attacks on the civilian population by Janjaweed militia crossing over from Sudan and by local Chadian Arab and some non-Arab groups; notes the extent of gender-based violence, harassment, intimidation and rape which is occurring in this region with complete impunity; calls on the Chadian authorities to investigate the reports of rape and other serious human rights violations and abuses and bring the perpetrators to justice;
7. Deplores any steps by the Chadian government to withdraw from the 13 August 2007 political agreement with a view to the reinforcement of the democratic process in Chad by all relevant Chadian political parties in the majority and in the opposition reached and urges an immediate release of all Chadian opposition politicians; further urges to put an end to impunity and to bring to justice those who are responsible for violence;
8. Calls upon all the States of the region to deepen their cooperation with a view to putting an end to the activities of armed groups and their attempt to seize power by force;
9. Strongly preoccupied by the direct threat that the combats pose for the safety of the civilian population, including internally displaced persons and refugees; alarmed by the recent aid workers' reports that both rebels and the government have visited refugee camps to recruit children into their forces;
10. Urges the EU and AU to press for a comprehensive peace process, using pressure and incentives to encourage all parties to return to the negotiating table and for talks to address all levels of conflict currently taking place within Chad, including government/rebel tensions and interethnic conflict; supports efforts made by the Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, and President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo to engage the Chadian parties with a view to ending the fighting and to initiating efforts aimed at seeking lasting solution to the crisis;
11. Extremely concerned by the 11 February 2008 statement of Chad's Prime Minister Nouradine Delwa Koumakoye suggesting a possibility for the Chadian government to interfere if the international community does not return the refugees to Sudan or move them elsewhere; calls on the Chadian government to maintain their co-operation with UNHCR while offering an indispensable refuge in Chad;
12. Calls on all parties involved in the conflict to demonstrate restraint and return to the negotiating table whilst supporting the work of humanitarian organisations that provide indispensable aid to refugees and IDPs;
13. Recalls that no peacekeeping mission in the eastern part of Chad and the northern part of the CAR can be successful without a genuine political reconciliation process;
14. Instructs its Co-President to forward this resolution to the European Council, the European Commission, the African Union, the UN Secretary-General, the Presidents, Governments and Parliaments of Chad, the Central African Republic and Sudan.