MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the mass atrocities in Jos, Nigeria
28.4.2010
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Goerens and Ramon Tremosa i Balcells on behalf of the ALDE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0247/2010
B7‑0253/2010
European Parliament resolution on the mass atrocities in Jos, Nigeria
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on human rights in Nigeria,
– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, ratified by Nigeria on 29 October 1993,
– having regard to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights of 1981, ratified by Nigeria on 22 June 1983,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. shocked by recent events in Nigeria, Jos which lies at the crossroads of Nigeria's Muslim north and Christian south, during which many hundreds of people were killed in ethnic violence,
B. whereas a Red Cross official said at least two other nearby communities were also targeted, in an area close to where sectarian clashes killed hundreds of people in January,
C. whereas the Red Cross is reporting that as a consequence of this violence at least
5-600 people are leaving the area in fear of their lives,
D. whereas thousands have died in religious and ethnic violence in Central Nigeria over the past ten years as religious and ethnic tensions have frequently been strained in Nigeria,
E. whereas the problems in the area of Jos stem from a lack of economic development and the tension is rooted in decades of resentment between indigenous groups, mostly Christians or animist, vying for control of fertile farmlands with migrants and settlers from the Hausa-speaking Muslim north,
F. whereas the instability underscores the fragility of Africa's most populous nation as it approaches the campaign period for 2011 elections with uncertainty over political leadership,
1. Strongly condemns violence in Central Nigeria and expresses its concern about the ongoing ethnic tensions in which both Haus-Fulani and Berom communities have been actors and victims;
2. Urges the authorities to work for a peaceful solution and calls upon the Nigerian government to protect its population and to address the root causes of the violence by ensuring equal rights to all citizens and addressing problems of unemployment and poverty;
3. Calls on the Nigerian authorities to act swiftly to protect civilians of all ethnicities at risk of further attacks or reprisal killings by conducting regular patrols throughout the region; calls for those forced to flee as a result of the massacre be allowed to return safely to their homes;
4. Calls upon the Nigerian government to urgently investigate these massacres and stresses that none of the perpetrators of the Jos crisis shall go unpunished;
5. Expresses its willingness to continue the dialogue that is taking place in the framework of its partnership with Nigeria, with view to strengthen the ongoing processes in this country towards a consolidation of democracy, the respect for human rights and the rights of minorities;
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the governments of Nigeria, the institutions of the African Union, the United Nations Secretary-General, the United Nations General Assembly, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the PAN-African Parliament (PAP).