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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the clashes in Sudan and subsequent media censorship

8.10.2013 - (2013/2873(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Charles Tannock, Adam Bielan on behalf of the ECR Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0444/2013

Postup : 2013/2873(RSP)
Postup v rámci schôdze
Postup dokumentu :  
B7-0444/2013
Predkladané texty :
B7-0444/2013
Prijaté texty :

B7‑0444/2013

European Parliament resolution on the clashes in Sudan and subsequent media censorship

(2013/2873(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Sudan,

 

- having regard to the statements of 30 September 2013 by the Spokesperson of the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the violence in the current protests in Sudan,

 

- having regard to the statement of 27 September 2013 by the Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights urging restraint as death toll in Sudan fuel protests rises,

 

- having regard to the UN Human Rights Council Report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, 18 September 2013

 

- having regard to the statement of 6 September by the Spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the Summit between the Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan in Khartoum, which took place on the 3 September in Khartoum,

 

- having regards to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

 

- having regard to the revised Cotonou Agreement,

 

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

 

 

A.  whereas on 23 of September 2013 demonstrations and protests erupted throughout Sudan following President Omar Al-Bashir’s announcement of cuts to fuel subsidies in a bid to reform the economy, which resulted in a sharp increase by 75% in the price of petrol and gas,

 

B.  whereas in protest thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of cities throughout the country, as the austerity measures introduced by the government together with almost doubled fuel prices hit the poor hardest,

 

C.  whereas economic situation of Sudan remains tough marked by raising inflation, a weakened currency,

 

D.  whereas on 30th September Leaders of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement –North (SPLM-N) and Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) urged supporters to join urban protests and announced preparing a military plan in order to topple the regime of the National Congress Party (NCP),

 

E.  whereas on 3rd of October the leader of Sudan’s opposition Popular Congress Party (PCP) Hassan al-Turabi called on President Omar al-Bashir to step down peacefully before facing the fate of previous dictators in the region,

 

F.  whereas increasing riots spreading throughout the country result in damaging petrol stations, vehicles and road blockades, as well as setting fire to a university building in Khartoum,

 

G.  whereas the crackdown on thousands of protesters has been violent, leaving at least 50 dead and 300 injured, with police and security forces being reported to use excessive forces including live ammunition; whereas under international law, intentional lethal use of firearms can only be justified when strictly unavoidable and only in order to protect life,

 

H.  whereas on the 2nd of |October President Bashir announced that the increase in fuel prices was necessary to avoid the collapse of the economy following the increase in inflation and instability in the exchange rate,

 

 

I.  whereas the education ministry said that schools will remain closed until 20 October,

 

J.  whereas Sudan is placed 170th country out of 179 in the Reporters Without Borders 2013 Press Freedom Index.

 

K.  whereas since the start of demonstrations in Sudan newspapers and media outlets were suspended or censored and known members of political opposition parties, other activists and journalists have been detained,

 

L.  whereas on the 25 of September National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) summoned the editors of the main newspapers to its headquarters and forbad them to publish any information about the protests that did not come from government sources,

 

M.  whereas Sudanese officials blame news outlets for trying to manufacture an Arab Spring in Sudan,

 

1. Expresses its deep concern over deteriorating political, economic and social situation in Sudan marked by violence and loss of life during recent protests which swept throughout the country,

2. Calls on all sides not to resort to force and to take all measures in order to avoid the unrest in the country to develop into an armed conflict; urges in this respect the government side to refrain from the excessive use of force and to ensure complying with international human rights obligations and urges the protesters to maintain the peaceful nature of their demonstrations,

3. Deplores the use of live ammunition on protesters resulting in unlawful killings and calls on Sudanese government to vigorously launch an investigation in this respect, and ensure that those responsible for breaching the law are brought to justice, as impunity cannot be tolerated,

4. Stresses that all detainees will be given the opportunity for a fair trial with credible investigation, right to attorney and presumption of innocence,

5. Calls on the Government of Sudan to respect civil liberties including freedom of expression, media and the right to peaceful assembly,

6. Calls on all political forces of Sudan to engage in a deep and comprehensive political dialogue in order to solve current political tensions which may lead to a greater destabilisation of the country; deplores in this respect taking the power over by coup d'Etat,

7. Calles on the Sudan's Government to introduce necessary political and economic reforms in order to provide answers to the country's chronic economic mismanagement, poverty, rising levels of corruption, and insecurity in the West and the South,

8. Urges the Sudanese government to put an end to censorship measures imposed on media, to protect journalists and to guarantee access to independent sources of information in order to encourage dialogue,

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, HR/VP Catherine Ashton, the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary General, the institutions of the African Union, the Government of Sudan, the president of Sudan, the ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly and the EU Member States.