European Parliament resolution on the peace process in Sierra Leone
Date: 1999-12-16
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Sierra Leone, child protection, civil war, establishment of peace, force reduction, human rights, humanitarian aid, multinational force

C 296/200

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.10.2000

Thursday 16 December 1999

F. whereas the Indonesian authorities and the Indonesian army in particular are implacably opposed to
co-operating with an international commission of inquiry set up by the UN to investigate crimes
against humanity in East Timor,

Urges the new Indonesian Government to find a peaceful solution to the situation in Aceh, on the

1.
Moluccan Islands, West Papua and other parts of Indonesia;

Asks the Indonesian Government to bring to account those responsible for violations of human
2.
rights in Aceh, the Moluccan Islands, West Papua as well as other parts of the country, and in East
Timor, whether committed by civilians, militias or the military; calls on all parties concerned to collaborate
fully in this investigation and calls upon the Indonesian Government to disband the special troop com-
mand Kopassus;

3.
Recognises that the resumption of the export of arms and other prohibited equipment to the Repub-
lic of Indonesia and the resumption of military co-operation will send a signal to the Indonesian armed
forces that they have been rehabilitated and will legitimise the repression they continue to practise in the
internal governance of Indonesia;

4.
Therefore asks the Council to examine possible adjustments of its abovementioned Common Position
and Regulation in the light of developments in Indonesia, including the question of East Timorese refugees
in West Timor, with a view to extending the duration of both instruments beyond 17 January 2000;

5.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the parliaments of
the Member States, the UN Secretary General, the Government of Indonesia and the leader of the Timorese
National Resistance Council, Xanana Gusmão.

10. Peace process in Sierra Leone

B5-0333, 0340, 0352 and 0367/1999

European Parliament resolution on the peace process in Sierra Leone

The European Parliament,

7 having regard to the Presidency’s statement of 15 July 1999 on the Sierra Leone Peace Agreement,

7 having regard to the Joint Action adopted by the Council on the EU’s contribution to combating the

destabilising accumulation of small arms and light weapons,

A. whereas rebel attacks against civilians, including deliberate and arbitrary killings, rape and abductions
of civilians, have increased in the last three months despite the Peace Agreement signed by the Gov-
ernment of Sierra Leone and the RUF (Revolutionary United Front) representatives in Togo on 7 July
1999,

B. whereas the Lomé Peace Accord of 7 July 1999 offers the best opportunity so far for a peaceful
settlement of the eight-year old civil war in Sierra Leone; welcoming the progress made in implement-
ing anti-corruption measures, reforms in the field of security and political reforms, together with steps
to rebuild civilian infrastructure,

C. whereas the Peace Agreement was intended to put an end to a conflict that has imposed immense
suffering on the people of Sierra Leone, claimed thousands of civilian victims and shocked the inter-
national community by the widescale atrocities committed against women and children,

D. whereas thousands of children have been actively participating in the violence as child-soldiers, while
left some

others have been affected by the RUF massive arm-cutting campaign which has
10 000 amputees in the country,

18.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 296/201

Thursday 16 December 1999

E. whereas Sierra Leone is one of the world’s poorest countries in spite of its significant natural

resources, most of which are controlled by the RUF and are used to finance the conflict,

F. whereas the Peace Agreement included a controversial general amnesty for rebel combatants in respect
of all acts committed during the eight-year internal armed conflict, including gross human rights
abuses,

G. whereas ensuring a fair and equitable judicial system is an essential element for providing Sierra Leone

with reconciliation and stability,

H.

I.

according great importance to the process of disarmament, demobilisation and re-integration of the
approximately 45 000 ex-combatants and welcoming the opening of the first of five demobilisation
centres,

deeply concerned that the disarmament, demobilisation and re-integration (DDR) programme, esti-
mated to cost $ 50 million, is not even 50 % funded, despite substantial funding from the UK and
support from Norway and Canada, a shortfall which threatens to undermine the DDR programme,

J. welcoming the decision by the UN Security Council to authorise a peace-keeping force of 6 000
(Unamasil) to replace the Nigerian-led Ecomog force, currently withdrawing at the rate of 1 000
troops a month,

1.

Condemns the continuing violence and human rights abuses against civilians committed by all sides;

2.
Deplores the delay in implementation of the peace process and urges all parties to relaunch the
discussions for a quick settlement of the controversial issues in order to achieve a lasting peaceful and
fair resolution of a conflict which has caused immense suffering to the people of Sierra Leone;

Calls on the Government of Sierra Leone to take immediate action to protect the civilian population

3.
and to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the continuing violence;

Calls on the neighbouring countries to contribute to the implementation of the peace process and to

4.
refrain from any further interference;

5.
Calls on the RUF leader, Mr Sankoh, and all rebel commanders to respect their obligations under the
Peace Agreement by urging their combatants immediately to stop all attacks on civilians, hand over their
weapons and release all captured civilians;

6.
Notes the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission as provided for in the peace
agreement but believes that peace can be reached only on the basis of accountability of individual perpe-
trators of grave human rights violations;

7.
Urges all Member States and the Commission to give urgent and active consideration to the fullest
possible direct participation in funding and otherwise supporting the DDR programme and essential
humanitarian aid to Sierra Leone;

8.
Calls on the UN Security Council to step up the deployment of the international peace-keeping force
to protect civilians and to assist with the monitoring of the cease-fire and the disarmament and demobili-
sation of former combatants;

9.
Calls on the Member States and the Commission to do their utmost to promote the full and active
participation of Sierra Leonean civil society organisations in the peace process, many of whom are already
undertaking important work in the humanitarian field and in promoting respect for human rights;

10.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments
and parliaments of the Member States, the Government of Sierra Leone and the Secretary-General of the
United Nations.