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Motion for a resolution - B6-0268/2008Motion for a resolution
B6-0268/2008

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

20.5.2008

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 Ryszard Czarnecki, Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, Adam Bielan, Ewa Tomaszewska
on behalf of the UEN Group
on situation in Burundi

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.
Procedure : 2008/2583(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B6-0268/2008
Texts tabled :
B6-0268/2008
Texts adopted :

B6‑0268/2008

European Parliament resolution on situation in Burundi

The European Parliament,

  • -having regard to the numerous UN Security Council resolutions and statements
  • -having regard to the UN Integrated Office (BINUB) reports
  • -having regard to the report of the EP Development Committee fact finding mission to Burundi in November 2007;
  • -having regard to the EU Presidency declaration on the recent fighting in Burundi in April;
  • having regard to Articles 3, 6, 11, 13 and 19 of the Treaty on European Union and Articles 177 and 300 of the EC Treaty,
  • having regard to all United Nations human rights conventions and the optional protocols thereto,
  • having regard to regional human rights instruments, including in particular the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Optional Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa,

-  having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union[1],

-  having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1889/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on establishing a financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide[2] (the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights or EIDHR),

-  having regard to all resolutions adopted by Parliament on urgent cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

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

A   whereas Burundi is emerging with the support of the UN Integrated Office in the country (BINUB) from more than a decade of a brutal civil war between its Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority, in which about 300,000 people were killed;

B   whereas in 2006 the government and the FNL (National Liberation Forces) agreed a ceasefire which broke down after the government rejected rebel demands for power-sharing

C whereas one of the world's most remarkable peace processes is under attack these very days and both sides - government defence forces and National Liberation Forces - condemn each another for having "violated the ceasefire accord" signed in 2006;

D whereas peace talks in Burundi stalled July 2007 when the rebels quit a truce monitoring team accusing mediators of bias.

E   whereas fighting between the army and the FNL occurred as the FNL, the last active movement in Burundi, announced it was resuming talks with the government, which stalled in July 2007. FNL delegates were expected in Bujumbura on 14 May

F whereas the persistent insurgency by the Forces for National Liberation (FNL), an ethnic Hutu guerrilla group, is seen by many as the final barrier to lasting stability in the tiny central African country of eight million.

G   whereas the violence in the capital of Burundi, Bujumbura, is causing panic in the country;

H whereas at least 20,000 people have fled their homes near the Burundian capital without anything after http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=78090fighting between the army and rebels;

I whereas the rains had destroyed more than 1,000 houses in the area, leaving 5000 people without shelter or food and they urgently need shelter and food aid,

J whereas the banana plantations, the main source of income for most Mugina residents, was completely destroyed by the heavy rains;

K   whereas Burundi is the poorest country in the world, in terms of GDP per capita: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollarUS$90 as of 2007;

L.  whereas president Nkurunziza of Burundi urged regional, international political intervention and National Assembly remains paralysed by political crisis; urging the international community, the EU and its governments in particular, to live up to their stated peace goals and promises at one donor conference after the other.

M whereas, according to information given by Human Rights Watch: Burundi's security forces have detained illegally about 200 people suspected of helping the country's last active rebel group.

1.  Deplores the attacks and urges all parties, first and foremost the Palipehutu FNL, to call an immediate halt to the hostilities, which are endangering the civilian population and the peace process as a whole;

2.  Believes that the global responsibility to protect must include the protection of peace and of eight million people who deserve to be rewarded for their remarkable maturity and vision

3.  Urges the Palipehutu-FNL (Forces Nationales de Libération) to return immediately and without any preconditions to the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism that was established in the wake of the ceasefire accord.

3.  Urgently calls for the resumption of dialogue as the sole means of making progress towards peace and reconciliation, which is a fundamental expectation of the Burundian people, and calls on the Palipehutu FNL to resume work as soon as possible in the joint verification and monitoring mechanism for the ceasefire agreement of 7 September 2006.

4.  Reaffirms its support for the South African facilitation and for the regional initiative and remains resolved, as part of the political directorate, to play an active part in removing obstacles to implementation of the action plan adopted in Cape Town (22 and 23 February 2008) and to assist in all efforts to reactivate negotiations and consolidate peace in Burundi.

5.  Suggests starting discussions about an impartial, international military force that can disarm the last rebel group and accompany it to the negotiation table.

6.  Calls for the strengthening of the United Nations in Burundi, for mediators to be provided, and for the UN Peace-building Commission to visit

7.  Calls on the Burundian government to take immediate steps to end the climate of impunity that facilitates illegal detention, mistreatment and torture of individuals by the police

8  Calls on the Council and the Commission to implement large-scale medical assistance programmes for the civilian populations in Burundi with immediate effect, in order both to meet the immediate needs of the population and in anticipation of the reconstruction of the region which will be required;

9.  Notes the progress in stability that has come to Burundi since the coming into force of a new constitution followed by general elections but calls for establishment of the peace and reconciliation commission as a confidence building measure that will help to restore a climate of confidence and stability among the different interested parties and calls on governments of EU Member States to support such an initiative financially and logistically;

10.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, Council, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the governments of the Member States, the UN Security Council and the African Union.