WRITTEN QUESTION E-1636/02 by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission. Democracy in Singapore.
Date: 2002-06-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Singapore, opposition, politics, right to justice

C 137 E/16

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

12.6.2003

(2003/C 137 E/017)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1630/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Arson attack on church in Germany

(10 June 2002)

According to an Associated Press despatch from Germany, a Catholic church in the German town of
Kassel was set on fire and desecrated by members of the Turkish nationalist organisation the ‘Grey Wolves’.
The German police reported that slogans supporting the organisation had been found written on the walls
of the church, while the entrance to the church had been destroyed by the fire.

The ‘Grey Wolves’ are one of a number of extreme nationalist organisations which frequently carry out
attacks on monuments belonging to any Christian denomination, as evidenced by the bomb attack six
years ago on the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Istanbul and the desecration of the Orthodox cemetery at
Varoukli in Istanbul, both of which were attributed to members of the organisation by the Turkish police.
Furthermore, the Republic of Cyprus has officially and repeatedly stated that, in August 1996, members of
the ‘Grey Wolves’ organisation beat to death the Cypriot national, Tassos Isaak, in the buffer zone in
Cyprus while he was demonstrating in favour of the peaceful reunification of the island. The ‘Grey Wolves’
are, in fact, the youth wing of the ‘Nationalist Action Party’ headed by the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister,
Devlet Bahçeli.

In the context of the Commission’s regular talks with Turkish officials, when did it last raise the subject of
the immediate cessation of terrorist attacks by this organisation on monuments, symbols and other states’
nationals? What specific commitments did the Turkish officials give regarding the cessation of the activities
of this extremist terror organisation? Is there any information linking this nationalist organisation with
cells of the Al Qa’ida terrorist network?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2002)

The Commission condemns all forms of violence and terrorism, regardless of the motivation of those
involved.

The Commission is aware of the attack to which the Honourable Member refers, and is closely following
developments connected with it. The matter is currently under investigation by the German authorities,
and, pending the outcome of this investigation, the Commission would refrain from comment.

The fight against terrorism, and against violence in general, is frequently addressed in the course of the
regular political dialogue between the Union and Turkey.

(2003/C 137 E/018)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1636/02

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(10 June 2002)

Subject: Democracy in Singapore

Is the Commission aware of the case involving Dr Chee Soon Juan, head of the Singapore Democratic
Party and leader of the opposition to Singapore’s ruling party?

Can the Commission confirm that Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Prime Minister Goh
Chok Tong are suing him for questioning the Government during elections in November 2001 about an
alleged secret USD 10 billion loan that was made by Singapore to the former Suharto regime in Indonesia
in 1997?

Is it true that the High Court rejected his application to have Australian lawyer William Henric Nicholas
defend him against the charges?

Does the Commission agree that, in a democratic society, political allegations should be rebuffed through
democratic debate rather than in court cases?

12.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 137 E/17

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 2002)

The Commission through its Delegation in Jakarta,
the
Member States, follows closely the human rights situation in Singapore, and is aware of the case of Dr Chee
Soon Juan, leader of the Singapore Democratic Party.

together with the Diplomatic Missions of

The Commission can confirm that, according to sources, Senior Minister Lee Kwan Yew and Prime
Minister Goh Cho Tong are suing Dr Juan for defamation in relation to an alleged secret loan to the
Soeharto regime and that two requests made by Dr Juan to be defended by a Queen’s Counsel from
another country have been rejected by the High Court of Singapore. In the mean time, it is understood
that Dr Juan has also filed a suit for libel against Senior Minister Yew.

The Commission has noted a tendency for leading figures in Singapore to exercise their right to go to
court over political allegations, and agrees that both open debate and the rule of law are important
elements of a healthy democratic society.

(2003/C 137 E/019)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1654/02

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council

(11 June 2002)

Subject: Support for small airports in the European Union

Documents such as the recent proposal for a European Parliament and Council regulation on establishing
common rules in the field of civil aviation (1) security make a distinction between small and major airports.
Since small airports are absolutely vital for the economic survival and development of the Union’s island
regions, which cannot rely on passenger and freight traffic through those airports, will the Council say
whether it has taken any measures to support the operation of the airports on small islands and, if not,
whether it intends to do so?

Has the Council taken precautions to ensure that the new security measures to be implemented at
European airports are not so onerous for small island airports that they are in danger of having to suspend
their operations?

(1) COM(2001) 575 (cid:1) 2001/0234(COD)/(15029/4/2001 (cid:1) C5-0033/2002, OJ C 51 E, 26.2.2002, p. 221.

Reply

(6 February 2003)

In order to respond to the challenges posed by the 11 September attacks, on 28 January 2002 the Council
adopted its common position on common rules in the field of civil aviation security, to which the
Honourable Member is referring. On 14 May 2002 the European Parliament amended that common
position. The Council was unable to accept all those amendments. Accordingly, a conciliation procedure
was opened on 19 September 2002.

At this stage it should also be noted that Article 4(3) of the common position provides for derogations for
‘small airports’, where the application of the common basic standards could prove disproportionate in the
light of a local risk assessment or where they cannot be implemented for objective practical reasons. In
such cases,
it would be for the Member State to adopt measures that provide an adequate level of
protection. The Commission would be notified of these measures and decide whether they complied with
the criteria.

However, the Council cannot give its definitive position on this issue until the procedure for adopting this
Regulation has been completed.