WRITTEN QUESTION E-1296/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Clashes in southern Nigeria.
Date: 2003-04-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Nigeria, ethnic conflict, national election, political situation, political violence, public safety

8.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

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The Commission:

(cid:1) what information does it have about the way the negotiations are going;

(cid:1) what approaches has it made or does it intend to make to the Venezuelan Presidency with a view to
encouraging the end of a crisis which is affecting the whole of Venezuelan society, so that one of
these two options is really taken up, thus ensuring a democratic solution?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

Since the start of the negotiations on 8 November 2002 between representatives of the Government of
Venezuela and the ‘Coordinadora Democrática’ (organised opposition), two agreements have been reached.
The first was a Pact against Violence, reached in February 2003. The second agreement was presented by
the Organisation of American States (OAS) facilitator on 11 April 2003 and was due to be signed on
22 April 2003. This ‘pre-agreement’ moves towards a possible revocatory referendum on the mandate of
President Chávez, once he reaches half term on the 19 August 2003, as provided by the Constitution. It
seems that the opposition is ready to sign it while the government has presented some amendments. The
signing of the agreement was postponed. However the government is under international pressure, mainly
from members of the ‘Group of Friends’, to accept and sign it.

The main disagreement during the negotiations on this ‘pre-agreement’ has been whether the sitting
president can participate in the new elections should his mandate be revoked through the referendum. An
opposition party demanded clarification on this point from the Supreme Court, which is yet to be issued.

The ‘pre-agreement’ includes the role of the international actors, naming the United Nations Development
Programme, Carter Center and OAS as international guarantors. The Group of Friends has expressed its
satisfaction with the latest developments and its readiness to assist in the future process.

The Commission and the Member States are following the situation in Venezuela with great attention. Pre-
occupied by the evident split of society into supporters and opponents of President Chávez, the Union has
expressed in several declarations (October and December 2002, January 2003) its full support for the OAS
efforts, and the Group of Friends, to facilitate a national dialogue between the Government and the
‘Coordinadora Democrática’ (organised opposition) as well as other relevant sectors of society. The Union
has emphasised the need for a peaceful, democratic, constitutional and electoral solution to the crisis. Two
Member States (Spain and Portugal) are members of the Group of Friends.

Furthermore, the Commission is financially supporting the OAS in facilitating the ongoing dialogue
between the parties and the implementation of possible agreements on three main points: free and fair
elections, creation of a Truth Commission to investigate the events of April 2002 and disarming the
civilian population. The Commission is also prepared to send an electoral observation mission, in the event
that an electoral consultation takes place and the Venezuelan government requests such a mission.

(2004/C 88 E/0354)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1296/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(7 April 2003)

Subject: Clashes in southern Nigeria

There are reports that clashes between the army and rival gangs of ethnic militants have caused dozens of
deaths in southern Nigeria, in the oil-rich Niger delta. Local inhabitants fleeing the fighting, which has

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been going on for several days, are talking of indiscriminate shooting by soldiers and rebels alike, and the
wholesale burning of entire villages. Apparently, the clashes involved two local communities, Ijaw and
Itsekiri, and have already brought thousands of soldiers into the region. Leaders of the Ijaw community
were claiming that 50 militants were killed in fighting with navy and army forces during clashes in the
locality of Okorenkoro, on Thursday. They are complaining that they were encircled by the troops on
returning to their villages. International petroleum companies operating in the area made hundreds of local
inhabitants leave the area at the end of the week, and the clashes have already led the three companies
operating there, Chevron Texaco, Shell and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, to reduce their
output. The Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has already issued a serious warning to the effect that
the level of violence is beginning to threaten the successful holding of the elections scheduled for next
month.

The Commission:

(cid:1) what information does the Commission have about the situation? Are the elections at risk;

(cid:1) what approaches have been made or are to be made to the Nigerian authorities?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 2003)

The Commission is following the security situation in Delta State in Southern Nigeria very closely. There
were large-scale outbreaks of violence in February 2003 and March 2003 in and around Warri which left
dozens dead and several villages destroyed in fighting first between Urhobos and Itsekiris, and then
between Ijaws and Itsekiris. A large military contingent was deployed to the area in March 2003 amid
reports of indiscriminate attacks by the security forces on Ijaw communities, in retaliation to the killing of
four soldiers.

This violence seems in part triggered by local political interests in the run-up to the April 2003 elections,
with disputes over the sharing of councillor posts between the principal ethnic groups, but also feeds on
frustration at the lack of development in the area despite the enormous oil wealth. This has precipitated
leading the
attacks on oil company installations and most recently the blowing up of two pipelines,
companies to shut down production and withdraw staff for safety reasons.

The situation remains volatile and tense. The Delta State Commissioner announced the deployment of
7 000 police to cover 3 500 polling booths for the elections. The Independent National Electoral
Commission said that it required special security arrangements to conduct elections in the State of Delta.

The Union and a number of other organisations had election observer teams in the country. The Union
team numbering 111 observers was deployed as planned and observed serious irregularities in the conduct
of the Presidential and Gubernatorial elections in Delta State. Their observations are detailed in their
Second Preliminary Statement issued on 22nd April 2003. The Commission Delegation, in co-ordination
with the representatives of Member States monitored the security situation in the country in the run-up to
the elections. They did not recommend an approach to the Nigerian Authorities specifically on the
problems in Delta State.