JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
6 September 2000
- –Banotti, Doyle and Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
- –Medina Ortega, Fava, Sakellariou and van den Berg on behalf of the PSE Group
- –Cox and Di Pietro on behalf of the ELDR Group
- –McKenna, Lipietz and Nogueira Román on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
- –Miranda, Marset Campos, Di Lello, Boudjenah and Cossutta on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
- –Collins, Muscardini, Queiró, Andrews, Fitzsimons, Gallagher, Crowley and Hyland on behalf of the UEN Group
- –PSE (B5‑0664/2000),
- –ELDR (B5‑0713/2000),
- –PPE-DE (B5‑0721/2000),
- –Verts/ALE (B5‑0729/2000),
- –UEN (B5‑0735/2000),
- –GUE/NGL (B5‑0742/2000),
European Parliament resolution on the human rights situation in Colombia and the threat to the life of Fr. Brendan Forde and his community
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Colombia,
– having regard to the latest reports on Colombia by the UN Commission on Human Rights,
A. having regard to the implementation of the peace process, and reiterating the firm support of the European Union for the efforts concerning it, in order to reach an agreement among all parts involved in the conflict,
B. deeply concerned about a pattern of increased political violence in Colombia,
C. whereas the Peace Communities in the Uraba Region have declared themselves to be neutral in the political conflict in Colombia between guerrilla, paramilitary groups and military forces; whereas, however, the Peace Community of La Unión and the Inter-Congregational Commission of Justice and Peace, including the Irish Franciscan Father Brendan Forde, have continued receiving death threats if they do not leave the area,
D. whereas the civilian population is defenceless against the violence,
1. Reiterates its support for a peaceful solution to the Colombian conflict and for the processes of dialogue and peace negotiations between the Government of Colombia and the FARC and ELN guerrilla groups;
2. Firmly condemns the violence, from whatever quarters it originates, and especially the massacre of 8 July 2000 in the Peace Community of La Unión in the Uraba region, and expresses its solidarity with all those working on behalf of the rule of law in Colombia;
3. Calls on the Colombian authorities to improve their protection of human rights organisations and to support their work wherever they can, and in particular to take immediate action to respect the lives and rights of the members of the Peace Communities, especially in La Unión, and the members of the Inter-Congregational Commission of Justice and Peace, including the Irish Franciscan priest Brendan Forde;
4. Welcomes the decision taken by the Colombian Government to establish and be part of a commission to investigate the latest massacre in La Unión, the third in this community since 1997, in order to bring to justice those responsible for it;
5. Reiterates its rejection of the use of arms as a means to solve the problems of Colombian society, and urges all sides to continue the peace negotiations which President Andrés Pastrana is conducting with the FARC and ELN guerrillas;
6. Calls on the Commission and the Member States, working closely with the UN Human Rights Office, to monitor human rights developments in Colombia and to keep Parliament informed;
7. Undertakes to encourage the EU to increase its support for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' office in Colombia;
8. Considers that the EU must persist with a specific non-military strategy to fight drug trafficking, in such a way that responsibility for combating this evil is not purely a matter for the poorer countries that produce narcotics and there is, rather, cooperation on the part of those countries that receive drugs, given that the international narcotics trade is only possible with the participation of both groups of countries;
9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Colombian Government and the authorities of the Peace Community of La Unión/San José de Apartado.