MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

10.3.2009

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 Adam Bielan, Ewa Tomaszewska, Konrad Szymański, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski
on behalf of the UEN Group
on Guinea-Bissau

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0115/2009

B6‑0117/2009

European Parliament resolution on Guinea-Bissau

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  having regard to the assassination of the president of Guinea-Bissau João Bernardo Vieira on 2March 2009 and his Chief of General Staff, General Batista Tagme Na Waie the day before,

B.  whereas the assassinations occurred soon after successful legislative elections which paved the way for democracy, country’s peace-building and development,

C.  whereas the killings were respectively condemned by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),

D.  whereas the last Guinea-Bissau's legislative elections, in November 2008 were held in a peaceful and orderly manner,

E.  whereas already in November 2008, renegade military elements attacked the residence of President Vieira but he survived the attack, which occurred just one week after legislative elections,

F.  whereas the fragile political situation has been further weakened by two killings and may affect the regional stability,

G.  whereas PlaceTypeGuinea-BissauPlaceType has been plagued by coups and political unrest since it gained independence from PlaceTypePortugal in 1974,

H.  whereas several hundred Papel refugees have already crossed the border into Senegal being afraid of reprisals from the Balanta military following the bomb blast that killed General Waie in a stairwell outside his office,

I.  whereas PlaceTypePlaceTypeGuinea-Bissau is one of the world's poorest states with a massive foreign debt and an economy relying heavily on foreign aid,

J.  whereas Guinea-Bissau is a major transit point for Latin American cocaine headed for Europe and as according to the press reports some army officials are known to have become involved in the trade,

K.  whereas PlaceTypePlaceTypeGuinea-Bissau is one of a handful of States on the agenda of the United Nations Peace-building Commission, which aims to help poor countries avoid sliding back into war or chaos,

1.  Strongly condemns the killing of the president of Guinea-Bissau João Bernardo Vieira and his Chief of General Staff, General Batista Tagme Na Waie, and calls for the holding of free and transparent presidential elections complying with international norms, within the next two months;

2.  Urges all the political and military authorities to respect the constitutional order and to exercise maximum restraint in order to enable a return to stability and the democratic process;

3.  Calls on the national authorities to maintain the rule of law and bring responsible to justice; urges all political groups to resolve their differences peacefully;

4.  Notes

5.  Calls on the international community to assist PlaceTypePlaceTypeGuinea-Bissau in saving constitutional order in and to continue to support peace-building efforts in the country;

6.  Calls for a national dialogue with the participation of all political parties, trade unions and civil society organisations, to pave the way for a democratic process;

7.  Condemns any attempt to change the government through unconstitutional means;

8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the PlaceTypePlaceTypeMemberPlaceType States, the Government of Guinea Bissau, the Secretary-General of the Southern African Development Community, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the Chairmen of the Commission and Executive Council of the African Union and the Secretary General of the United Nations.