WRITTEN QUESTION E-0208/02 by Carlos Carnero González (PSE) to the Council. Human rights in Western Sahara.
Date: 2002-02-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Morocco, Western Sahara, common foreign and security policy, diplomatic relations, international issue, prison system, prisoner of war

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/93

A proposal in that direction, to be included in the monitoring guidelines, will be presented to the next
Nitrates Committee. With the view to securing reliability and comparability of statistics, frequency of
sampling will also be precised in that proposal, taking into account the hydrogeological context (e.g.
increased frequency for ‘karstic’ subsoil with quick circulation of waters).

(2002/C 205 E/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0208/02

by Carlos Carnero González (PSE) to the Council

(5 February 2002)

Subject: Human rights in Western Sahara

According to media reports, on 24 December 2001 several score of the Saharan prisoners in the notorious
‘black jail’ of El Aaiun (Western Sahara) began a hunger strike in protest against the inhuman conditions in
which they are being held. It appears that many of them have been subjected to torture, ill-treatment and
total isolation from the outside world. In support of them, their relatives held a peaceful march which was
violently suppressed by the Moroccan authorities.

In total contrast to this reappearance of human rights violations in Western Sahara. the Polisario Front has
simultaneously shown proof of its good will in its decision, on 2 January 2002, to release 115 Moroccan
prisoners of war.

What information can the Council supply on these developments? Has the Council asked the Moroccan
government for an explanation, and has it requested it to adopt positive measures? Does the Council not
consider it necessary to send an observer mission as soon as possible to verify the state of affairs at ground
level?

(2002/C 205 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0410/02

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Council

(11 February 2002)

Subject: Community mediation to obtain the release of prisoners in the Sahara conflict

The long-standing conflict in the Western Sahara has, among other consequences, led to the taking of large
numbers of prisoners on both sides. Prisoners who have been incarcerated for years are forced to wonder
why they should have to waste away their lives for decades on end, in severely overcrowded conditions
which are in breach of the applicable international conventions.

A political solution will eventually determine the future of this former Spanish colony. History will decide
on this, but meanwhile it is essential not to overlook the predicament of the prisoners who still see no
prospect of release, especially as no end to the conflict is as yet on the horizon.

Independently of the political considerations and excluding any pretension to mediate in any of the
proposed political solutions, does the Council believe that, in the context of the common foreign and
defence policy, it should propose a lasting humanitarian solution for all of the prisoners on both sides who
are incarcerated by reason of a conflict whose end is not yet in sight?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0208/02 and P-0410/02

(21 May 2002)

The Council would inform the Honourable Member, Mr Carlos Carnero González,
knowledge of the events in the El Aaiún prison to which he refers.

that

it has no

More generally, the Council remains most concerned by the fate of more than 1350 prisoners of war who
are still in captivity, and have been, in most cases, for 20 years, requiring an early solution which complies
with the obligations under the Geneva Convention. It has steadfastly emphasised that one must not wait
for the end of the political process to begin seeking a solution to urgent humanitarian issues such as