WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2718/98 by Leonie van BLADEL to the Council. Questions concerning human rights violations in the Netherlands Antilles
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN BLADEL
Subjects: Netherlands Antilles, human rights, penal institution, police, prisoner, violence

14.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 135/103

The European Union will therefore continue to call upon the UNITA leadership to comply immediately
and without conditions with its obligations, in particular the complete demilitarisation of its forces and full
cooperation in the immediate and unconditional extension of State administration throughout the national
territory.

In the meantime, recognising the patience shown by the Angolan government, the Union will encourage
the latter to reject military action, to pursue dialogue to resolve the crisis, to refrain from any steps which
could exacerbate the current situation, and to facilitate the work of the Special Representative of the UN
Secretary General.

In the framework of its relations with Angola, the Union remains of course committed to encouraging and
supporting national reconciliation, economic reconstruction and democratisation, on the basis of respect
for the rule of law and good governance (including the transparent and accountable management of all the
country’s resources for the purpose of equitable and sustainable development).

2.
Concerning the crisis in the Great Lakes region, the Union maintains that no lasting peace can be
achieved without a political settlement and continues to support the idea of convening an international
conference, under the joint auspices of the UN and the OAU and enjoying the support of all the States of
the region, in order to address within a global approach the root causes of the conflicts there.

On the recent crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Union has in particular reiterated its
support for the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty of the DRC and its neighbouring countries
and called for a cessation of external interference in that country. It should be noted in this context that the
DRC’s invitation to Angolan, Zimbabwean and Namibian troops was not considered inconsistent with UN
Charter principles by the UN Security Council, though the Union is of course lending its support only to
those diplomatic initiatives aimed at a peaceful solution.

Like the Honourable Member, the European Union remains concerned about the situation in the
3.
Republic of Congo and has condemned any external interference, particularly intervention by foreign
troops, and has asked for the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces.

(1999/C 135/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2718/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Questions concerning human rights violations in the Netherlands Antilles

Is the Council of Ministers aware that the Public Prosecutor in Curaçao has ordered an investigation

1.
into the ill-treatment of prisoners in Koraal Specht Prison?

Is the Council of Ministers aware that violent incidents occurred in the high-security wing of Koraal

2.
Specht Prison before warders and members of the riot police intervened?

3.
Does the Council of Ministers realise that the manner in which the riot police in the Antilles
intervened, which included forcing a group of prisoners to strip naked and, while handcuffed, run the
gauntlet back to their cells along a row of warders hitting them with batons, constitutes a serious violation
of human rights?

4.
Is the Council prepared to ask the Kingdom of the Netherlands for information about these practices,
and what does the Council of Ministers intend to do to prevent such conduct from occurring on the
territory of an EU Member State in the future?

Reply

(14 December 1998)

The Council is not in a position to answer the Honourable Member’s questions which, in any case, do not
come under the competence of the European Union.