WRITTEN QUESTION E-1341/03 by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Council. Arrest of the Sudanese national Tawfiq Salih Abu Kadouk.
Date: 2003-04-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Sudan, arrest, cooperation agreement (EU), peace, political opposition

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/79

In the wake of

there have also been two cases in the last three years where people have been specifically accused of
homosexuality.
the ‘Al-Aqsa Intifada’, Sharia courts have also been set up where
homosexuals are threatened with the death penalty by stoning, burning and hanging. These courts also
declare persons suspected of homosexuality to be ‘outlaws’, who can be murdered with impunity. It is also
reported that the PA police regularly inflicts appalling torture on homosexuals.

The EU has committed enormous amounts of financial aid to the region. Since 1993, over EUR 1,4 billion
has flowed into the PA-ruled areas, and since June 2001 the EU has paid a steady EUR 10 million per
month to the PA through direct budget payments. Further large appropriations are granted through the
MEDA programme. Is the Council aware of the above-mentioned facts about the situation of gays, lesbians,
transsexuals and trans-genders in the PA areas? Does it have any other information? If so, what? Does it
know about the situation of homosexuals in the UNWRA camps co-funded by the EU? Has the Council
already taken any measures to bring about a change in this intolerable situation? If not, does the Council
consider that the EU (cid:1) in view of the extent to which it supports the PA (cid:1) has a right to insist on
compliance with human rights obligations by the PA, and must assert this right? If not, would the Council
agree that the EU and its Member States should grant those affected immediate and unlimited asylum? If
not, why not?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1338/03 and E-1346/03

(7 October 2003)

The Council cannot confirm the information and has not specifically discussed this matter.

The Council remains concerned to defend the values and principles (cid:1) in particular liberty, democracy,
equality, respect for all human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law (cid:1) on which the European
Union is founded and which govern its relations with its Partners in the Barcelona Process. The
Association Agreement concluded with Israel and the Interim Agreement in place with the PLO/Palestinian
Authority both state in Article 2 that relations are based on respect for democratic principles and
fundamental human rights, which constitute an essential element of the Agreements. The Council, in its
dialogue with Israel and the Palestinian Authority, always stresses these points and will continue to do so.

(2004/C 51 E/090)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1341/03

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Council

(9 April 2003)

Subject: Arrest of the Sudanese national Tawfiq Salih Abu Kadouk

On 16 March this year Tawfiq Salih Abu Kadouk, chairman of the Justice Party, was taken from his home
by the Sudanese security forces, who did not offer any explanation at the time of the arrest. The Justice
party is one of the legally recognised opposition parties which are, according to Sudanese law, authorised
to engage in political activity.

Is the Council aware of the arrest?

What steps will
immediately?

it

take to persuade the Sudanese authorities to release Tawfiq Salih Abu Kadouk

C 51 E/80

Official Journal of the European Union

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26.2.2004

Does it not consider that implementation of the agreement signed with the government in Khartoum last
December (cid:1) which envisages the use of initial funding for the technical preparation of cooperation
programmes (cid:1) should be made subject to full respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, starting with
those officially recognised by the law currently in force in that country?

Reply

(29 September 2003)

The Council does not have information on the arrest of the chairman of the Justice Party, Mr Tawfiq Salih
Abu Kadouk, which apparently had taken place on 16 March this year.

If this is confirmed the EU will have to consider what action it could take in this case.

The main interest of the EU in the relations with the Sudan is, at this conjuncture, the promotion of a
comprehensive peace settlement and to pursue the linked issues of democracy, rule of law, respect for
human rights as a pre-condition for normalisation of EU (cid:1) Sudanese relations including resumption of
cooperation. The EU is confident that a peace agreement would facilitate further progress in these areas.

(2004/C 51 E/091)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1354/03

by Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Pollution of the Segura river (Murcia, Spain)

(10 April 2003)

In the Commission’s last reply (E-1852/02 (1), 31 July 2002) to my many questions concerning the serious
pollution of the Segura river (Murcia, Spain), it stated that, on the one hand, it was unaware of the judicial
developments in this affair and did not have the power to act and, on the other, it was aware of the
Spanish government’s good intentions, which were reflected in the Environmental Recovery Plan for the
Segura basin.

Last week (11 March 2003), the public prosecutor in the case concerning the pollution of the Segura river,
condemned by the Izquierda Unida (Left Unity) party, presented the charges (see attached document)
against eight people (the chairman and former chairman of the Segura Hydrographic Confederation, the
Commissioner and former Commissioner for Water, the former managing director of Emuasa, the mayor
of Alcantarilla and the two people in charge of the construction firm hired by Emuasa), alleged to have
committed a crime against the environment and public health. Furthermore, my complaints to the
Commission of the complete inefficiency of the various and successive sewage treatment plants in the
Segura river basin throw into doubt the Spanish government’s good intentions concerning the professed
effectiveness of the aforementioned Recovery Plan.

In view of these facts, and taking into consideration both the numerous complaints made by myself and
other people and organisations and the Commission’s obligations in the face of circumstances with a
bearing on EU directives on water quality, the dumping of sewage and public health:

Can the Commission say:

1. Does the Commission not consider that it must intervene with the relevant Spanish national, regional
and municipal authorities to demand a quick solution to this worrying pollution of the Segura?

2. What steps does the Commission intend to take to deal with the situation?

3. Does the Commission not think that it takes more than the building of sewage treatment plants to

guarantee the quality of water, proper treatment of all kinds of sewage, and public health?

(1) OJ C 301 E, 5.12.2002, p. 239.