MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Eritrea: the case of Isaak Dawit

13.9.2011

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 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Filip Kaczmarek, Mario Mauro, Cristian Dan Preda, Bernd Posselt, Monica Luisa Macovei, Tunne Kelam, Sari Essayah, Elena Băsescu, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Zuzana Roithová, Sergio Paolo Francesco Silvestris on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0505/2011

B7‑0512/2011

European Parliament resolution on Eritrea: the case of Isaak Dawit

The European Parliament,

- Having regard to Articles 2, 3, 6(3) and 21(2)(a) and (b) of the Treaty on the European Union,

 

- Having regard to Article 9 of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement as revised in 2005 (the Cotonou Agreement), to which Eritrea is a signatory,

 

- Having regard to the Declaration by the Council Presidency on political prisoners in Eritrea of 22 September 2008, and to subsequent Council and Commission statements on Eritrea and the human rights situation since then,

 

- Having regard to its previous resolutions on Eritrea and in particular those concerning human rights and the case of Mr Isaak Dawit,

 

- Having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,

 

 

A.       Whereas the EU is strongly and clearly committed to the protection of human rights as a fundamental value; and whereas press freedom and freedom of speech are among those universal human rights;

 

B.        Whereas the rule of law is a principle which must never be compromised;

 

C.       Whereas Swedish citizen Mr Isaak Dawit, a former reporter for an independent newspaper in Eritrea, will on 23 September 2011 have spent 10 full years in prison, without charges, trial or legal hearing, after government intervention halted independent media production within the nation, and is considered internationally a prisoner of conscience;

 

D.       Whereas a legal opinion presented to the European Parliament President in September 2010 underlines the fact that the EU has a legal and moral obligation to protect its citizens in accordance with the European Convention of Human Rights and as established by case law in the European Court of Justice;

 

1.        Notes with great concern the continued deplorable human rights situation in Eritrea, notably the lack of freedom of expression and the continued existence of political prisoners held in contradiction to the principles of the rule of law and Eritrea’s constitution;

 

2.        Regrets that Mr Isaak Dawit has not yet regained his freedom, deeply regrets that he has up to now spent ten years as a prisoner of conscience, and fears for his life under the well known harsh conditions of Eritrean prisons and without adequate access to the necessary health care for treatment of his known medical condition and suspected injuries incurred while detained;

 

3.        Underlines with the strongest emphasis the seriousness and urgency of the matter;

 

4.        Reiterates its calls on the State of Eritrea to immediately release all political prisoners including Mr Isaak Dawit; demands that, if such a release cannot be directly executed, medical and legal assistance be immediately extended to these and other prisoners; demands furthermore access by EU or EU Member State representatives to Mr Isaak Dawit in order to establish his needs in terms of health care and other support;

 

5.        Calls on the Council to urgently consider applying targeted sanctions on relevant Eritrean authorities including visa restrictions for President Afewerki on travelling to the EU;

 

6.        Calls on the Council to consider unilaterally suspending development assistance until the State of Eritrea responds to these demands;

 

7         Calls on the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy to step up efforts by the EU and its Member States for the release of Mr Isaak Dawit;

 

8.        Appeals to the African Union as a partner to the EU and with an expressed commitment to the universal values of democracy and human rights to step up its actions regarding the regrettable situation in Eritrea and work together with the EU for the release of Mr Isaak Dawit and other political prisoners;

 

9.        Follows with interest the judicial process of a Habeas Corpus appeal on the case of Mr Isaak Dawit raised in July 2011 in the Eritrean Supreme Court by European lawyers;

 

10.      Extends its heartfelt support and sympathy to the families of these political prisoners;

 

11.      Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the European Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the parliament and government of Eritrea, the Pan-African Parliament and the African Union.