WRITTEN QUESTION E-1075/01 by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council. Allegations of police brutality in the Czech Republic.
Date: 2001-04-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Czechia, accession criteria, human rights, sanction (EU), violence

C 340 E/164

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

(2001/C 340 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1074/01

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council

(5 April 2001)

Subject: Forced labour in Burma

Is the Council aware of the use of forced labour in Burma? If so, what steps does it intend to take to
remedy this situation?

Reply

(16 July 2001)

The Council shares international abhorrence at the practice of forced labour in Burma, a practice which it
fears has not yet ended. As the Honourable Member will recall, the European Community suspended GSP
privileges in 1997 as a result of this practice. The Council has also of course taken a number of other
measures over the last four years, set out in its Common Position, in response to the political situation in
Burma/Myanmar.

The Council fully supported the resolution of the International Labour Conference adopted in June 2000,
and welcomed the entry into force of the measures recommended by the resolution on 30 November
2000, following the meeting of the ILO Governing Body.

Governments of Member States have been discussing how best to give effect to the recommendations
contained in the resolution with their social partners. They, as well as the Commission, have also reported
on these efforts to the Director-General of the ILO.

The Council recognise that the Government of Burma/Myanmar has taken certain measures aimed at
ending the practice of forced labour. Forced labour needs, however, to be outlawed legally, ended in
practice, and any continuing practitioners punished. The Council is monitoring the situation closely and,
should the authorities in Burma/Myanmar fail to take the necessary steps in this respect, the Council stands
ready to take further measures.

The Council made clear its concerns regarding forced labour during the visit of the EU Troika mission to
Burma/Myanmar in January 2001. It expects that the question will continue to be considered by the ILO/
ILC and also by Ecosoc. It sincerely hopes that contacts will be renewed between the ILO and Burma/
Myanmar and that an ILO presence may be established in the country in order to verify a definitive end to
the practice of forced labour.

(2001/C 340 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1075/01

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council

(5 April 2001)

Subject: Allegations of police brutality in the Czech Republic

Is the Council aware of the allegations of police brutality in the Czech Republic during the meeting of the
World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Prague in September 2000? Following the violation of
the rights of the people detained after the protests, what does the Council intend to do to ensure that the
Czech Republic investigates all complaints of torture and ill-treatment in an impartial manner?

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/165

Reply

(16 July 2001)

The Council has received no specific information concerning allegations of police brutality in the Czech
republic during the meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Prague in
September 2000.

The Council attaches the utmost importance to the respect, by the candidate countries, of the principles of
democracy, the rule of law and human rights. With regard to the Czech Republic, the Council notes that
the Commission(cid:146)s 2000 Regular Report on the Czech Republic(cid:146)s progress towards accession concluded that
the country continued to fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria. It can be noted in particular that the
Czech Republic has continued to develop its internal institutional framework in the field of human rights
by following the establishment in 1998 of a Human Rights Commissioner with the creation in February
2000 of the office of the Public Protector of Rights (Ombudsman), who is empowered to deal with a range
of matters including complaints concerning the police.

If it turns out that there has been a violation of the fundamental principles mentioned above then the
appropriate representations to the Czech Republic, particularly within the framework of the bodies
established by the Europe Agreement, could be envisaged.

(2001/C 340 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1076/01

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council

(5 April 2001)

Subject: Repression of peaceful activists in Indonesia

The Indonesian security forces are currently intensifying their repressive approach towards peaceful
political activists, particularly in outlying regions such as Aceh and Papua. many of these activists are being
silenced by being kept behind prison bars. What does the Council intend to do to ensure that these people
benefit from a fair trial which respects international standards?

Reply

(20 July 2001)

As the Honourable Member may know, the Union recently raised similar concerns to his own at
the UN Commission of Human Rights in Geneva. The EU noted continued disappearances, arbitrary
detentions, extra-judicial executions and torture, particularly in Aceh and Irian Jaya. It expressed particular
concern about the imprisonment of individuals who strive for autonomy in a peaceful manner, and called
for their immediate release.

(2001/C 340 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1077/01

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council

(5 April 2001)

Subject: Human rights in Iran

The recent arrests in Iran of non-violent opposition groups who collaborate in an informal religious-
nationalist alliance calls into question whether or not Iranians are able to exercise their basic rights. What
steps does the Council intend to take to make its views known on this issue?