MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Yemen

13.1.2010

to wind up the debate on the statement by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Patrick Le Hyaric, Marie-Christine Vergiat, Rui Tavares, Sabine Wils on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group

B7‑0025/2009

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Yemen

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Yemen is one of the world’s least developed countries, with increasing levels of poverty, hunger and malnutrition; whereas the country is suffering from rising unemployment and high poverty rates, with over 45% of the population living on less than USD 2 per day; whereas low education levels have led to high illiteracy rates – 66% for women and 27% for men; whereas the situation of women is of particular concern and gender disparities in Yemen are among the biggest in the world,

B.  whereas Yemen has seen many military conflicts; whereas since 12 August 2009 a new round of heavy fighting has erupted in the Northern region, ending the cease-fire signed in mid-July 2008 and having disastrous consequences for the civilian population,

C. whereas according to UN sources the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is estimated to have reached 175 000 while up to 800 000 people are indirectly affected by the conflict, including communities hosting IDPs and residents who have lost access to basic services,

D. whereas fighting between Yemeni Government forces and supporters of the late Shi'a cleric Hussein al-Houthi spilled over into Saudi Arabia in November 2009; whereas Saudi warplanes have bombed Yemeni villages in areas controlled by Huthi rebels,

E.  whereas despite ongoing fighting and the desperate humanitarian situation in Yemen, Saudi Arabia continues to forcibly return Yemenis who have fled to Saudi Arabia, in violation of its obligations under international law,

F.  whereas government security forces have responded to calls for secession of the South with the brutal repression of the so-called Southern Movement; whereas the security forces have carried out widespread human rights abuses – unlawful killings, arbitrary detentions, beatings, crackdowns on freedom of assembly and speech and arrests of journalists – fuelling the conflict instead of searching for civil solutions to the political, economic and social problems,

G. whereas for many years the international community closed its eyes to the situation in Yemen; whereas since the recent aborted terrorist attack on a Delta airliner, worldwide attention has focused on Yemen, reducing the problem to an alleged al-Qa'ida connection,

H. whereas the Government of Yemen has for many years received financial assistance which is used for the so-called 'fight against terrorism',

1.  Expresses its deep preoccupation about the worsening internal situation in Yemen and its effects on regional peace and stability; observes that no military solution to the multiple conflicts in the country is possible and that only the search for peaceful solutions will yield results; condemns the use of force by all sides involved;

2.  Strongly rejects any foreign military intervention in Yemen as well as the whole concept of 'preventive wars';

3.  Calls on the Government of Yemen to increase its efforts to ease the tensions in the country by establishing a comprehensive political dialogue and by addressing longstanding grievances and their root causes through a negotiated, political settlement involving all regions and all elements of Yemeni society;

4.  Calls for an immediate ceasefire in Sa'dah; urges Saudi Arabia and others not to fuel the conflicts in Yemen but to contribute to a peaceful settlement of the problems;

5.  Reminds all parties of their obligation to respect human rights law and international humanitarian law; particularly calls on the parties to allow civilians wishing to escape from the conflict to reach places of safety, to facilitate access for the UN and NGOs to areas where IDPs have gathered and to urgently allow emergency medical and humanitarian relief to reach IDPs;

6.  Calls on Saudi Arabia to immediately stop the forcible return of Yemenis to the war zone and to cooperate closely with aid agencies to assist civilians at risk at the border;

7.  Calls on the Government of Yemen to ensure that its security forces cease using force against protesters, to stop arbitrary arrests of protesters and critics and to release all those arbitrarily arrested, including children; urges the Government of Yemen to end the impunity of the security forces and to hold accountable those who have unlawfully used such force;

8.  Considers that international assistance to Yemen should be reoriented and focused on civilian humanitarian assistance, reconciliation and development; calls on the Commission to act accordingly;

9.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EU Member States, the US Government and Congress, the Governments of Yemen and Saudi Arabia and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.