WRITTEN QUESTION E-0639/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Council. Angola — Cabinda — human rights.
Date: 2003-03-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Angola, EU relations, civil war, human rights, peacekeeping, political cooperation, report

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/33

What steps does the Greek presidency of the Council intend to take to ensure that Ocalan is guaranteed
the basic right of defence? Does the Council not consider that, since Ocalan’s sentence of death has been
commuted, Brussels should now exert pressure on the government in Ankara to ensure that Ocalan is
granted freedom and that negotiations are launched with a view to a political solution to the ‘Kurdish
question’?

Reply

(29 September 2003)

The Council is closely watching the situation. After a period during which Mr Abdullah Ocalan had

1.
indeed been unable to receive visits, he has recently received visits from his lawyers and his brother.

2.
In a judgment of 12 March 2003 (Ocalan v. Turkey (cid:1) application no 46221/99) concerning
Mr Abdullah Ocalan’s complaints relating to his detention, the trial and the sentence (death penalty)
pronounced against him, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found, with regard to the right to a
fair trial that Mr Abdullah Ocalan’s right had been violated and that the imposition of the death sentence
following an unfair trial had amounted to inhuman treatment. It did not, however, uphold the complaints
regarding the legality of his arrest and of the conditions of his detention on the island of Irmali in the light
of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The Council
will closely monitor the follow-up to the Court’s judgment, which may be subject to appeal by either
party.

3.
In the context of political dialogue with Turkey and under the Accession Partnership, the Council
constantly insists on compliance with the provisions of the European Convention for the Protection of
Human Rights and in particular the judgments of the ECHR. As regards the wider aspects of the ‘Kurdish
question’ raised by the Honourable Member, the Council expects Turkey to continue to work towards
guaranteeing human rights (cid:1) including cultural rights (cid:1) and fundamental freedoms for all citizens
irrespective of their origin, and promoting economic, social and cultural development in the South-East in
particular.

On 26 March, the Commission adopted a revised Accession Partnership setting priorities for Turkey

4.
in meeting the pertinent political criteria, which the Council agreed on 14 April.

(2004/C 51 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0639/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Council

(4 March 2003)

Subject: Angola (cid:1) Cabinda (cid:1) human rights

In December 2002 a report was presented in Luanda drawing attention to serious violations of human
rights in the Angolan province of Cabinda. This report was produced by Angolan NGOs. Several of its
claims have since been confirmed from other sources (notably Amnesty International) and relayed in the
international press. The report accuses both the Angolan military and the pro-independence FLEC.

The long-standing conflict between the Angolan government and UNITA has recently subsided, bringing in
its wake the return of peace.

Angola is now endeavouring to consolidate democracy in a framework of national reconciliation and
freedom, without which it will be impossible to rebuild the nation or, by the same token, promote the
welfare of its inhabitants. However, the problem of Cabinda remains unsolved, as does the associated
armed conflict; meanwhile, all initiatives are to be welcomed if they contribute to the broadening and
deepening of the framework for peace and reconstruction and are based on a full commitment to
respecting fundamental human rights.

C 51 E/34

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

Can the Council answer the following:

(cid:1) has the Council examined the above-mentioned report?

(cid:1) has it been made aware by other means of the human rights violations referred to?

(cid:1) does it have a position on the claims made?

(cid:1) does the Council believe it is in its power to take measures to help ensure that human rights violations
of this nature will not recur and, if possible, to promote a political dialogue which will put an end to
the conflict in Cabinda?

Reply

(29 September 2003)

The Council has always followed developments in Angola closely, particularly in the province of Cabinda,
and remains concerned about reports on human rights violations as referred to by the Honourable
Member. The Council’s position on human rights violations is well known and constantly repeated in the
appropriate fora. The Council is trying to do its utmost to take measures that help ensure that human
rights violations will not recur. It has called on the government of Angola to provide the necessary
resources to meet the humanitarian challenges and to implement policies aimed at ensuring civil rights and
delivering real and sustainable economic and social reform. The EU is committed to continuing to raise
human rights issues and to assisting the Angolan authorities in their efforts to alleviate the suffering of the
people in the context of an ongoing political dialogue under Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement. It will
continue to follow developments in the situation with the aim of facilitating a negotiated solution.

(2004/C 51 E/035)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0640/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(4 March 2003)

Subject: Angola (cid:1) Cabinda (cid:1) human rights

In December 2002 a report was presented in Luanda drawing attention to serious violations of human
rights in the Angolan province of Cabinda. This report was produced by Angolan NGOs. Several of its
claims have since been confirmed from other sources (notably Amnesty International) and relayed in the
international press.

The report accuses both the Angolan military and the pro-independence FLEC.

The long-standing conflict between the Angolan government and UNITA has recently subsided, bringing in
its wake the return of peace. Angola is now endeavouring to consolidate democracy in a framework of
national reconciliation and freedom, without which it will be impossible to rebuild the nation or, by the
same token, promote the welfare of its inhabitants. However, the problem of Cabinda remains unsolved, as
does the associated armed conflict; meanwhile, all initiatives are to be welcomed if they contribute to the
broadening and deepening of the framework for peace and reconstruction and are based on a full
commitment to respecting fundamental human rights.

The Commission has a delegation in Luanda and is responsible for a number of programmes in Angola.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Sérgio Vieira de Mello, visited the country in January
2003.