MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Burundi, in particular the case of Pierre Claver Mbonimpa
16.9.2014 - (2014/2833(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Ignazio Corrao on behalf of the EFDD Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0086/2014
B8‑0087/2014
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Burundi, in particular the case of Pierre Claver Mbonimpa
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- having regard to the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
- having regard to the United Nations 1988 Declaration on Human Rights
- having regard to the Second Revision of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement
- having regard to the numerous UN Security Council resolutions and statements,
- having regard to latest appeals of the UN Human Rights Committee;
- having regard to Council Conclusions on the Great Lakes Region of 22 July 2014, in particular point 7 thereof,
- having regard to Articles 13-19 of the Burundian Constitution,
- having regards to article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and General Comment 22 by the United Nations Human Rights Committee
- having regard to the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights
- having regard to the Statement of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on Burundi,
- having regard to Rule 135(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Burundi has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR), Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG), and the United Nations Convention Against Torture (Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - CATCIDTP),
B. whereas Mr Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, a human rights activist in Burundi, was arrested on 15 May 2014 in the capital city Bujumbura, and jailed without a trial for more than a month
C. whereas Mr Mbonimpa, president and founder of the Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons (APRODH), is a former police officer, and a prisoner himself from 1994 to 1996,
D. whereas Mr Mbonimpa was charged by the state Prosecutor with inciting public disobedience and endangering internal and external state security for alleged remarks made on the Burundian radio station on 06 May 2014,
E. whereas the EU delegation in Bujumbura took note on 10 September 2014 of Mr Mbonimpa's transfer to a hospital and is concerned by the deterioration of his health condition;
F. whereas Mr Mbonimpa's claims that young Burundians being turned into soldiers and sent in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo for military training
G. whereas Mr Mbonimpa, as an independent journalist and member of opposition party, has been the long-term target of repeated government-orchestrated threats, intimidated harassed and prevented from carrying out his activities,
H. whereas Mr Mbonimpa’s work in the defence of human rights and democracy in Burundi in the last years, has earned him several international awards and international recognition,
I. whereas international actors in Burundi recognize Mr. Mbonimpa as a man of integrity and courage, uncompromising in his beliefs and his determination to obtain justice
J. Whereas the right to freedom of thought, including political, is a universal human right and a fundamental freedom of each human being, interrelated with other human rights and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
1. Condemns the unjustified detention of Mr Mbonimpa ;Calls on Burundi's public authorities to release Mr Mbonimpa from detention without delay, and to ensure that all charges pressed against him be reviewed in a fair trial;
2. Insists that Mr Mbonimpa's right to appropriate medical care be firmly uphold in accordance with Burundi's constitution and the country's international commitments on Human Rights;
3. Urges the Burundi authorities to respect article 13-19 of their constitution,
4. Calls on the government of Burundi , without delay, to stop using violence against civilians participating in peaceful public protests and media campaigns in support of Mr Mbonimpa,
5. Calls on the Government of Burundi to guarantee the peaceful exercise of the freedoms of expression, association and assembly in line with its international obligations
6. Stresses the need for combined efforts and coherent institutional engagement by the EEAS and the European Commission to improving the Human Rights situation in Burundi;
7. Condemns the persistent oppression of human rights activists, journalists, political opponents, victims and witnesses in Burundi
8. Notes with concern that since President Pierre Nkurunziza's re-election in 2010, there is more and more intimidation and harassment towards human rights defenders, journalists, opposition leaders
9. Calls on the Burundi authorities to ensure that all charges pressed against prisoners be reviewed in a fair trial , in particular for the 52 detained who were sentenced to jail after a trial on 08 March 2014
10. Calls, once again, support of Mr Mbonimpa's release from jail, for respect of the freedom of speech and Human Rights in general in Burundi, and for ending violence against, and especially arbitrary detentions of, political activists and journalists in the country
11. Calls on the Burundian authorities to respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, so as to ensure the safety and protection of human rights
12. urges the government of Burundi to take all necessary measures to stop, without delay, any form of politically motivated violence
13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the African Union, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Government of Burundi.