WRITTEN QUESTION P-2584/02

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(10 September 2002)

Subject: Human rights in Laos

On 26 October next it will be three years since Thongpaseuth Keuakoun, Khamphouvieng SISA-AT, Seng-Aloune Phengphanh, Bouavanh Chanmanivong and Keochay, Lao student leaders, disappeared after organising a peaceful march in Vientiane calling for more social justice, free elections and democratic reforms in Laos. Despite various international moves, including two EP resolutions in February and November 2001, the attitude of the highest authorities in Vientiane has fluctuated between silence and contradictory information. In November 2001 the Lao Deputy Foreign Minister, Phongsavat Boupha, told Mrs Boniver, the Italian Deputy Foreign Minister, that the five had not yet been tried but soon would be. On 13 June 2002, when questioned by the EP Delegation for ASEAN at a meeting in Strasbourg, Mr Samane Souvannasao, vice-chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of the LPDR, claimed, without any supporting evidence, and total contradicting the statements previously made by the Deputy Foreign Minister, that the five had been sentenced as common criminals on 29 June 2001 and been imprisoned in Vientiane. Furthermore, in reply to a request from the Liberal Christopher Huhne, who asked to see all the trial documentation, the Lao MP said that it would be forwarded to him, which suggested that the documents might not have been drawn up yet The numerous contradictions and the great confusion surrounding the official version of events make one fear the worst as far as the five student leaders are concerned. Can the Commission urge the authorities of the LPDR to supply, without further delay, detailed, precise and exhaustive information regarding the present whereabouts of the five desaparecidos, covering both the legal issues including the proceeedings of their trial, if any and their imprisonment and state of health? Does the Commission not consider that to turn citizens into desaparecidos or non-persons is one of the most serious violations of the fundamental rights recognised by the UN Charter and the international conventions to which the LPDR itself has freely subscribed? If so, will the Commission give the Lao authorities to understand that to continue such practices and other abuses contrary to fundamental rights will lay them open to a suspension of the Cooperation Agreement?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(1 October 2002)

The Commission has expressed on several occasions, both to the Lao Government and in the Parliament, its deep concern regarding the human rights situation in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR).

The question of the arrest and disappearance of the five leaders of the 26 October 1999 Movement has been raised by the Commission in bilateral meetings with the Lao Government, as well as in other fora. Unfortunately, it has been impossible so far to receive clear information from the Government on the five missing Laotians.

The Commission fully supports the implementation of the United Nations (UN) Charter and the international conventions as referred to by the Honourable Member. It welcomes the efforts of the Parliament Delegation for Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Affairs to try to get information and documentation regarding the Lao student leaders and will support these efforts.