WRITTEN QUESTION P-1384/01 by Marco Pannella (TDI) to the Commission. Vietnam.
Date: 2001-04-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Buddhist, Viet Nam, human rights, the EU's international role

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/23

Reply

(21 November 2001)

The meeting that took place on 5 March 2001 in Brussels between the Belgian Prime Minister, Mr Guy
Verhofstadt, the Belgian Foreign Minister, Mr Louis Michel and President Mugabe of Zimbabwe was
organised at the request of President Mugabe.

the
The private meeting that
French Republic, Mr Jacques Chirac and President Mugabe of Zimbabwe was requested by President
Mugabe. The Council was neither instrumental in the setting up of either of these meetings, nor did it
participate in them.

took place on 6 March 2001 in Paris between the President of

Since the beginning of March this year the EU has decided to enter into a constructive, critical and
balanced dialogue with Zimbabwe guided by the spirit of Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement. The EU
started this dialogue with the objective of exchanging information and fostering mutual understanding on
issues which the EU considers to be fundamental in the relationship between the parties, and which are
also covered by the text of the above Agreement (Article 9).

At its meeting on 25 June 2001, the Council noted the lack of substantial progress in the ongoing political
dialogue with the Government of Zimbabwe and expressed its deep concern over recent developments in
that country. It stressed that as a first priority the dialogue should yield rapid and tangible results in a
number of areas (an end to political violence, full access for the EU, concrete action to protect the freedom
of the media,
independence of the judiciary and respect for its decisions, and an end to the illegal
occupation of properties).

The Council agreed to closely follow developments in these areas, as well as on overall questions regarding
the rule of law, economic policies and the land reform, over the following two months, and to take
appropriate measures if substantial progress had not been made.

(2002/C 81 E/028)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1384/01

by Marco Pannella (TDI) to the Commission

(27 April 2001)

Subject: Vietnam

On 10 April 2001 the deputy leader of the Unified Buddhist Church in Vietnam, the Venerable Thich
Quang Do, informed the International Buddhist Information Office that the Vietnamese police had cut the
telephone lines of the Thanh Minh Zen monastery in Ho Chi Minh City. Communications by means of
mobile telephones were subsequently jammed, since when nothing more has been heard of Mr Thich
Quang Do.

On the eve of the Ninth Congress of the PCV [Vietnamese Communist Party], Mr Thich Quang Do issued a
call for democracy in Vietnam to the country(cid:146)s leaders, whom he asked to initiate a process, based on a
broad popular alliance of groups and individuals of every political and religious hue, which would bring
about a peaceful transition to democracy. Following this call, Mr Thich Quang Do was threatened with
arrest.

What information does the Commission hold regarding Mr Thich Quang Do(cid:146)s whereabouts and his state of
health? Has the Commission already taken (or does it intend to take) steps to remind the Vietnamese
communist authorities of their obligation to guarantee freedom of opinion and association in Vietnam?

More generally, what action does the Commission intend to take in order to ensure that the new leaders of
the PCV finally initiate the political and institutional reforms which will enable democracy, constitutional
government and a proper market economy to be established?

C 81 E/24

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(31 May 2001)

Mr Thich Quang Do has been located at the Than Minh Zen Monastry in Ho Chi Minh City. He is reported
to be in good health, taking into account his age (75 years) and the fact that he suffers from diabetes and
high blood pressure.

The Delegation of the Commission in Hanoi, together with the diplomatic missions to Vietnam of the
Member States, follows closely matters of concern in the field of human rights and participates in all
actions to convey the Union(cid:146)s concerns to the Vietnamese authorities. The Commission will continue to
raise particular issues of concern in the course of these contacts.

(2002/C 81 E/029)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1400/01

by Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE) to the Council

(7 May 2001)

Subject: Situation in Turkish prisons

In its resolution of 18 January 2001 Parliament called on the Turkish authorities to take the necessary
legal and administrative measures forthwith to put an end to the dire situation in Turkish prisons, and
urged Turkey to respect its obligations as a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights and
the international conventions on torture. Three months on, however, the situation has deteriorated.
According to reliable information, 49 people have died, dozens have suffered permanent damage to their
health, and the number on hunger strike has risen to 2000.

Given that Parliament(cid:146)s appeal to the Turkish Government and the Council of Europe(cid:146)s representations
have been ignored, what immediate measures will the Council take to make it clear to Turkey that respect
for human rights and the rule of law are a condition of any cooperative relations between that country and
the European Union?

Reply

(27 November 2001)

The Council deeply regrets that the hunger strikes have led to loss of life. Turkey has adopted new laws,
which inter alia reduce the isolation of prisoners. Further measures to improve prison standards are in
preparation. The Council recalls the medium term undertakings given by Turkey in the framework of the
Accession Partnership in relation to adjusting detention conditions in prisons to bring them into line with
the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and other international norms.

More generally, the Council reiterates the priority undertakings given in the short term,
context, to:

in the same

(cid:129) strengthen legal provisions and undertake all necessary measures to reinforce the fight against torture
practices, and ensure compliance with the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture.

(cid:129) further align legal procedures concerning pre-trial detention with the provisions of the European
Convention on Human Rights and with recommendations of the Committee for the Prevention of
Torture.

The EU will continue to press for the early entry into force and full and genuine implementation of these
measures including implementing fully the recommendations of the Committee for the Prevention of
Torture issued in January 2001.