WRITTEN QUESTION P-3175/01

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Disappearance of Keuakoun, Sisa-At, Phengphanh, Chanmanivong and Keochay

On 15 February 2001 Parliament adopted and forwarded to the Commission an emergency resolution(1) in which it:

- drew attention to the plight of prisoners of conscience in Laos, notably the five members of the '26 October 1999 movement', Keuakoun, Sisa-At, Phengphanh, Chanmanivong and Keochay, who were arrested on that date and have now disappeared; and

- called on the Laotian authorities to release all prisoners of conscience and guarantee the full exercise of their fundamental rights, and also to guarantee fundamental civil and political rights by ratifying and implementing the applicable UN conventions.

Nine months have passed since then, and the Commission, and, in particular, Mr Chris Patten, the Commissioner for external affairs, have taken no steps to raise Parliament's questions with the authorities in Vientiane.

In an attempt to counteract the Commission's inaction and make a political gesture in the absence of any action by Commissioner Patten, Mr Olivier Dupuis, Member of the European Parliament and Secretary of the Transnational Radical Party, recently visited Laos with four other leading Radical figures, with whom he re-ran the demonstration held two years before by the democratic student movement. The Radicals Dupuis, Mellano, Manzi, Lensi and Khramov were all arrested and held in custody, in violation of the applicable international conventions.

What initiatives does the Commission intend to take with the Laotian authorities in order to ascertain whether Keuakoun, Sisa-At, Phengphanh, Chanmanivong and Keochay are alive or dead and whether they have been murdered or kidnapped?

(1) OJ C 276, 1.10.2001, p. 281.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(6. December 2001)

In the Community statement before the 57th UN Commission on Human Rights on 29 March 2001, the Community expressed its concern about the fact that the exercise of political opposition is not tolerated in Laos and has led to the detention of several persons in October 1999 and November 1999 for demonstrating against the government. The Community is also concerned about the arbitrary nature of some of the arrests, the non-existence in practice of the right to preparation of legal defence and counsel, and the lack of legal training of the judiciary in Laos PDR.

The Commission's Delegation in Bangkok, which covers relations with Laos PDR, follows this and other matters relating to human rights very closely. On the issue of political prisoners, the Commission, in cooperation with the Diplomatic Missions of the Member States, continues to monitor developments and to participate in Community démarches requesting information on the legal procedures regarding political prisoners.

Human rights issues, such as restrictions in freedom of opinion and expression, flaws in the system of administration of justice as well as political prisoners, were discussed with representatives from Laos in the first EU-Laos PDR Joint Committee, which took place in May 2001. On this occasion, the Commission also reiterated the suggestion by the Parliament Delegation, which visited Vientiane in April, that Community Ambassadors and/or the International Committee of the Red Cross be authorised to visit political prisoners.

The Commission is committed to emphasising the need to strengthen respect for civil and political rights in Laos, including freedom of expression, assembly, association and religion. The Commission will continue to raise these matters in all our bilateral contacts.