European Parliament resolution on the legal proceedings against General Pinochet and the consolidation of democracy in Chile
Date: 2000-12-14
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Chile, charge, democratisation, dictatorship, human rights

17.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 232/353

F.

having regard to the agreement reached last year between NATO and Yugoslavia which makes this
zone off-limits to security forces from both sides, with the exception of lightly armed Serbian police-
men,

Thursday 14 December 2000

Calls on President Kostunica to take all possible steps to secure the release of all political prisoners

1.
from the Milosevic era who are still detained in Serbian prisons;

Points out that it will damage the political credibility of the new President if political prisoners of the
2.
Milosevic regime remain political prisoners under the new leadership and therefore urges that a dignified
solution be found for the new democracy in Serbia and firmly believes that all political prisoners should be
released by presidential pardon or on the basis of an amnesty law currently being drafted by the Yugoslav
Ministry of Justice, while the Albanian Kosovar political prisoners could be handed over to UNMIK, taking
into account UN Security Council Resolution 1244;

3.
Calls on both sides 0 the Albanian Kosovars and the new leadership in Belgrade 0 to investigate the
fate of missing persons, both Albanian Kosovars and Serbs, who disappeared before, during and after the
Kosovo conflict and by so doing to re-establish a basis of confidence between the two groups as a vital
condition for peaceful development in Kosovo;

4.
Strongly condemns the recent violence in Kosovo and in the bordering areas of Presevo and calls on
all parties concerned not to increase tensions in the security zone between Kosovo and Serbia at a time
when, after the election of President Kostunica, there are real chances of reaching a peaceful and sustain-
able agreement between Serbs and Kosovars which could resolve a protracted conflict;

Calls upon the multinational KFOR peacekeeping force in Kosovo to reinforce control on the border

5.
with Serbia so as to prevent further incursions by ethnic Albanian extremists;

6.
Calls on the UN, the Council and the Commission to establish the political conditions for the start of
a positive and constructive dialogue between the Yugoslav Federal Government and the political leaders in
Kosovo;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, President Kostunica

7.
and UNMIK.

18. Human rights: Chile

B5-0903, 0911, 0915, 0924 and 0930/2000

European Parliament resolution on the legal proceedings against General Pinochet and the conso-
lidation of democracy in Chile

The European Parliament,

A. whereas the principle of the separation of powers is a crucial element of the democratic system which

should furnish an effective guarantee of an independent judiciary,

B.

underlining that EU-Chile relations must be based on respect for human rights, democratic values and
a shared vision of justice and accountability for crimes against humanity,

Expresses its respect for the Chilean judiciary and the independence of which it has shown proof in
1.
the proceedings against General Pinochet, and calls for such respect to be scrupulously practised by the
state institutions;

Supports, similarly, the attitude of the government of President Lagos as regards non-interference in

2.
the judicial process;

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,

0 recalling its previous resolutions on the situation in Mozambique,

0 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 0 consisting of three Mozambican doctors and foreign experts, including
four South Africans 0 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,