European Parliament resolution on Mozambique
Date: 2000-12-14
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Mozambique, democratisation, human rights, peace, right to demonstrate, violence

C 232/354

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

17.8.2001

Thursday 14 December 2000

3.
Affirms the right of the Chilean people to identify the authors of the flagrant violations of funda-
mental rights committed under the Pinochet dictatorship, to pin responsibility on those concerned and
draw the necessary consequences, and to see the victims or their relatives properly compensated;

4.
Calls on the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States to demonstrate
their support for and solidarity with the firm line taken by the Chilean government in defence of the
independence of the judiciary;

5.
Insists that the best means by which the EU can support the consolidation of democracy in Chile is
the conclusion of a far-reaching agreement for political cooperation and economic association and coop-
eration, with the human rights clause to the fore;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Governments of

6.
the Member States and the Government of the Republic of Chile.

19. Human rights: Mozambique

B5-0910, 0916, 0925 and 0931/2000

European Parliament resolution on Mozambique

The European Parliament,

+ recalling its previous resolutions on the situation in Mozambique,

+ having regard to the declaration by the presidency on behalf of the European Union on Mozambique,

A. deploring the violent clashes of 9 November which caused at least 41 deaths, after the demonstrations
organised by the main opposition party, Renamo, degenerated into battles with the police in a number
of towns and cities in northern and central Mozambique,

B. pointing that these demonstrations are being organised against the current government, calling into
question the outcome of the presidential and general elections held in December 1999, although they
were defined by international observers as free and fair,

C. whereas it is alleged that in many instances the police opened fire on the demonstrators and whereas

many of the dead were members of Renamo,

D. whereas a further tragedy followed these clashes when at least 80 people, of those arrested during or
after the demonstrations, died in custody in Montepuez on the night of 21/22 November, allegedly of
asphyxiation, after 96 people had been crammed into a cell which should have held nine at most,

E. whereas according to information provided by the team of experts instructed to investigate the cir-
cumstances of the incident + consisting of three Mozambican doctors and foreign experts, including
four South Africans + the detainees died of asphyxia, as a result of blatant carelessness and negligence
on the part of the Mozambican authorities,

F.

having regard to the arrest of 11 policemen considered to be responsible for these deaths,

G. having regard to the setting up of a parliamentary committee of inquiry, including representatives of

the opposition, in order to throw light on this tragedy,

17.8.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 232/355

Thursday 14 December 2000

H. whereas the government requested the assistance of international experts in carrying out investiga-

tions, including those into the violent incidents which took place on 9 November,

I.

appalled by the cowardly assassination of the well-known and highly respected Mozambican journalist,
Carlos Cardoso, allegedly as a result of his tenacious investigation of corruption arising out of the
country’ s privatisation programme,

J. whereas Mozambique was devastated by sixteen years of civil war before the return of comparative

peace following the Rome peace agreement of 4 October 1992,

K. having regard to Mozambique’s efforts in favour of sustainable development, with the aid of the inter-
national community, in particular the European Union, which supports the process of political and
socio-economic transition,

Expresses its sympathy for the families of the victims, since these deaths have been a cause of grief

1.
and pain for the Mozambican people;

Strongly condemns the recent violent clashes which accompanied the demonstrations in the centre

2.
and north of Mozambique;

3.

Condemns any use of violence in political disputes and calls for respect for the rule of law;

4.

5.

Calls on all the democratic forces in the country to consolidate peace and the democratic process;

Calls for respect for political elections and their outcome;

6.
Calls on all parties to strictly abide by their obligations under the Rome peace agreement and in
particular on the Government to recognise the legitimate right of the Renamo opposition party to organise
peaceful rallies;

7. Welcomes the recent setting up of a committee of inquiry by the Mozambican parliament and urges
all parties to cooperate fully in this inquiry;

8.
Calls for a committee of inquiry to be set up to identify the killers of Mr Cardoso, and considers that
the death of this journalist, famous for his independence, is a grave loss as far as the democratic process in
this country is concerned;

Calls for the continuation of EU support for the process of political and socio-economic transition in

9.
Mozambique;

Calls on the Member States of the European Union to step up diplomatic moves to exert influence

10.
and bring about peace in Mozambique;

Calls on the international community to consider, as a matter of urgency, the problem of Mozam-

11.
bique’s debt;

12.
Recommends that the Council and the Commission, in the context of their respective competences,
should remain vigilant in upholding human rights and the consolidation of the democratic process in
Mozambique;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Secretary-Gen-

13.
eral of the United Nations, the Organisation of African Unity and the authorities of Mozambique.