MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
10.3.2009
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Bernd Posselt, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Tunne Kelam
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on the Philippines
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0121/2009
B6‑0121/2009
European Parliament resolution on the Philippines
The European Parliament,
- having regards to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. reaffirming its resolutions of 18 July 1997 and 14 January 1999 on the Philippines, supporting peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) within the framework of their Joint Declaration in The Hague,
B. encouraging the aforementioned parties to abide by all their bilateral agreements since 1992, especially The Hague Joint Declaration, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, the Joint Agreement on the Formation, Sequence and Operationalization of the Reciprocal Working Committees, Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and Oslo Statements I and II,
C. acknowledging and supporting all the common and separate efforts of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines to apply the CARHRIHL, the International Bill of Rights and International Humanitarian Law and pave the way for a just and lasting peace,
D. thanking the Royal Norwegian Government for steadfastly and generously acting as the third party facilitator between the GRP and NDFP, for making all appropriate efforts to encourage them to resume the formal talks in their peace negotiations and for assisting the maintenance and operations of the GRP and NDFP sections of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) created under the CARHRIHL,
E. commending the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform of religious leaders and all other peace advocates in the Philippines, including respected institutions, organizations and personages, for encouraging both the GRP and NDFP to resume formal talks in their peace negotiations in accordance with their existing agreements and to undertake the full operationalization of the JMC under CARHRIHL,
F. welcoming all the expressions and acts of good intention of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and National Democratic Front of the Philippines within their respective spheres of responsibility and in accordance with international law and their common determination to implement all their bilateral agreements and accelerate the progress of the peace negotiations,
G. welcoming the decision of the Regional Trial Court in La Trinidad, placeplaceBenguetplace Province on 19 January 2009, that the authorities must disclose the whereabouts of abducted indigenous people's rights activist James Balao,
H. having in mind the latest information on acts of violence such as the kidnapping of ICRC staff members in January 2009, the killing of the journalist Ernesto Rollin on the island of Mindanao at the end of February 2009 and the explosion of two home-made bombs in the southern Philippine city of Cotabato on 2 and 4 March 2009,
1. Urges the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines to comply with their bilateral agreements, resume the formal talks in their peace negotiations, overcome all obstacles and accelerate the progress of their peace negotiations in Europe, forging the comprehensive agreements on social and economic reforms and political and constitutional reforms and achieving a just and lasting peace;
2. Continues to support all the bilateral agreements of the GRP and NDFP, the full operationalization of the Joint Monitoring Committee under the Comprehensive Agreement of Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and all confidence-building measures that they have agreed and shall agree to undertake in order to create a favourable atmosphere for effective peace negotiations and to lay the ground for a just and lasting peace;
3. Recognizes and appreciates all the acts of good intention of the Parties and their common and international humanitarian law and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law;
4. Notes that, while legal and institutional instruments for the protection of human rights do exist, safeguards are not sufficiently implemented in practice; urges the Government of the Philippines to take the necessary measures to ensure due process, to combat the reported abuse of power by the military and law enforcement officials; also remains preoccupied by continued reports of extra-judicial killings and the current atmosphere of impunity;
5. Requests the Commission and Council to provide and facilitate support and assistance to the Parties in carrying out their formal peace negotiations, in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and in undertaking development, relief, rehabilitation programmes and other related activities, including research, education and community organizing;
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States and the Government of the Republic of the placePhilippinesplace and the National Democratic Front of the placePhilippines.