EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/503

(2004/C 88 E/0515)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0492/04

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Mozambique — possible trafficking in human organs — threats to EU citizens

Five ‘Servants of Mar/missionaries (four EU citizens of Spanish nationality and one Brazilian) who have been working in the Nampula region for over 30 years have received death threats for having reported the existence of trafficking in human organs and the deaths of children and young people in that region. The threats were recently reported in the media.

The missionaries’ convent is located between the property to which the victims are brought and the airport to which it is suspected that the human organs are sent. The nuns claim to have heard evidence from individuals who managed to escape kidnap attempts and took refuge in the convent and to hold a variety of documentary evidence. A Brazilian nun — Sister Maria Eliida dos Santos — who first drew attention to this state of affairs made inquiries in Nampula and discovered, in particular, a corpse from which the eyes, hearts and kidneys had been removed.

As soon as the nuns reported such macabre practices they became the target of repeated threats and of four ambush attempts which, miraculously, they survived. They fear for their safety and they accuse the local authorities (which have apparently done nothing meaningful so far to combat the crimes reported) of corruption. They are calling for pressure to be exerted via the international press with a view to remedying the situation.

Would the Commission answer the following questions:

— is it aware of the above facts, which relate in particular to four EU citizens? What information does it hold regarding the nuns' safety and what action has it taken (or is it intending to take) in order to guarantee their safety;

— in particular, has the Commission established (or is it intending to establish) contact with the Mozambique authorities in order to ensure that the nuns' safety is guaranteed and that the suspected trafficking in the region concerned is fully investigated? Is the Commission willing (and, if so, in what ways?) to help ensure that the nuns in question are able to enjoy the freedom and the safety which they need in order to be able to continue their work, which includes caring for and assisting the people affected and fully investigating the disappearance of persons in the region concerned?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2004)

Since these abominable alleged crimes were reported and as indicated in the Commission's reply to the Honourable Member written questions E-0143/04 and E-0072/04 (1), the Commission has been following closely the situation with the EU Head of Missions, the Director of the Human Right League (LDH), and the government.

The Government of Mozambique, through the Republic's General Prosecutor's office, has started investigations, with a multi-institutional team including the Attorney General's office, the investigative police and the Nampula branch of LDH. The investigation is ongoing and will go deeper into the reported cases, although from the 14 alleged cases no evidence could be established that human organs are subject to illegal trafficking. Furthermore, there is the political will in Mozambique to bring before the court any persons responsible for these crimes.

The Commission is aware of the concern regarding the nuns' safety and although this matter falls outside the Commission's competence and can be best addressed through interventions from the respective EU Embassies, the Commission will examine within the framework of the EU co-ordination and EU-Moz-ambique political dialogue the most appropriate way to raise this issue with the government.

The Honourable Member can be assured that the Commission, within its competence, will continue supporting the Government of Mozambique to reinforce its investigative capacity so that justice prevails in this country.

(1) See page 169.