B4-0725, 0758, 0764, 0778, 0792 and 0801/97

Resolution on Kenya

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Kenya, particularly that of 17 July 1997 on the violation of human rights in Kenya ((nutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 12(b).)),

- having regard to the statement by the Presidency of the European Union of 13 August 1997,

A. having regard to the atmosphere of violence in Kenya, in particular in Mombasa and on the coast, only a few months before the presidential and legislative elections,

B. whereas armed gangs have attacked people who originate from the interior of the country, causing some fifty deaths, burning houses and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes,

C. having regard to the acts of brutality committed by the Kenyan security forces under the guise of reprisals,

D. concerned at the deterioration in the human rights situation in Kenya and the climate of repression imposed on members of opposition movements by the Kenyan Government,

E. whereas the aid granted to Kenya by the international financial institutions has been suspended until further notice,

F. having regard to the constitutional reforms which were finally adopted by the Kenyan Parliament on 11 September 1997, for which the opposition and human rights activists have been pressing under the banner of the National Convention Assembly,

G. concerned by the consequences for neighbouring countries which could arise from the persistence of a crisis situation in Kenya,

1. Strongly condemns the acts of brutality which have been inflicted on the people of certain regions of Kenya;

2. Once again strongly condemns all incidents of political violence organized by the state security forces or otherwise, and calls on the Kenyan authorities to stop all acts of violence against innocent and defenceless citizens, which are leading to further destabilization and ethnic conflict in the country;

3. Calls on all parties to renounce violence and to restore the calm needed for trouble-free elections;

4. Condemns the climate of systematic repression by the party in government of opposition forces and civil society, a climate which threatens the credibility of the forthcoming elections;

5. Takes note of the constitutional reforms which have just been adopted by the Kenyan Parliament and their provisions concerning public demonstrations, access to the media and the setting-up of an Electoral Commission, and calls on the Kenyan Government to respect them in full, as well as freedom of association and freedom of expression;

6. Furthermore calls on the government to engage in peaceful dialogue with the opposition parties on further constitutional and legal reforms required for free and fair general elections;

7. Urges the Kenyan Government to take measures against corruption;

8. Calls on the Commission to support the electoral process by supplying any assistance needed for the organization of free and fair elections;

9. Calls on the Commission to provide assistance for those displaced following the upsurge of violence on the Kenyan coast;

10. Calls on the Council and the Commission to monitor closely the human rights situation in Kenya and the democratic developments in the country and to bring to bear any pressure needed, in accordance with Article 5 of the Lomé Convention, so that the violations of human rights and of the civil and political rights of the Kenyan people are quickly brought to an end;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the ACP-EU Council of Ministers, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly, the Government of Kenya and the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity.