WRITTEN QUESTION E-2558/03 by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission. Human rights in Peru.
Date: 2003-08-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Peru, arrest, human rights, prison system, the EU's international role, torture

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/97

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 2003)

Following Written Question E-1223/01 by the Honourable Member, the Commission has been following
the case of Mr Trinh through its Delegation in Hanoi. According to its most recent
information,
the policeman who arrested Mr Trinh was arrested for corruption himself. Moreover, the main witness
against Mr Trinh has withdrawn his testimony in writing. However, the Commission has no confirmation
yet that the Vietnamese authorities have reopened the case.

The Commission is not aware that the case of Mr Trinh or other cases have had a negative impact on
European investment in Vietnam. However, corruption and lack of transparency continue to be some of
Vietnam’s most pressing issues in the reform process. The Government of Vietnam has taken decisive
measures against corruption as part of the public administration and legal reform programmes, which are
under implementation and to which the Member States and the Commission have offered their support.
The promotion of good governance, best administrative practice and a properly functioning judiciary
system are priorities for Community co-operation with Vietnam under the Country Strategy Paper
2002-2006.

The competence to intervene in this case lies primarily with the Dutch authorities. The Commission’s
policy towards Vietnam is to encourage and support continued progress on human rights, democratisation
and good governance, and to raise concerns where abuses occur or where the situation deteriorates.
The Commission works closely with the Member States in monitoring developments in the country.
It participates in all Union démarches to the Government of Vietnam on human rights issues.
The Commission will continue to follow Mr Trinh’s case, together with the Diplomatic Missions of the
Member States in Vietnam.

(2004/C 88 E/0102)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2558/03

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission

(4 August 2003)

Subject: Human rights in Peru

Is the Commission aware of the arrest and detention of Walter Cubas Baltazar in Peru? Concerned
constituents have contacted me in response to reports of alleged torture of Mr Walter Cubas Baltazar
during the course of his detention.

Can the Commission assure my constituents that it monitors reports of human rights abuses in Peru and
uses the opportunities arising from its official relations with the country in order to highlight instances of
concern?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2003)

The Commission is aware of the arrest and detention of Walter Cubas Balthazar in Peru and the
Commission Delegation in Lima is closely following events relating to the arrest.

In line with the Working Paper on the implementation of the Guidelines to Union policy towards third
countries on torture of December 2002, EU Heads of Mission in Lima have recently reported on the
situation with respect to torture in the country and are monitoring Peru’s progress towards the complete
eradication of torture.

C 88 E/98

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Human Rights issues occupy a permanent place on the agenda of the Union-Peru political dialogue, carried
out at the level of the Andean Community (CAN). The Union is supporting in particular the work of the
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Comisión de la Verdad y Reconciliación Nacional) amongst whose
tasks is the investigation of serious human rights violations during the period of 1980-2000.

(2004/C 88 E/0103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2563/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(4 August 2003)

Subject: Compatibility between the violence perpetrated by the Sudanese dictatorial regime and the

agreement initialled by the European Union and Sudan

Considering that:

(cid:1) according to the press agency MISNA, during the clashes of the last few weeks between rebel forces
and the Sudanese government, Antonov aircraft of the Sudanese airforce have hit 25 villages in the
north-west of the western state of Darfur, using unspecified ‘toxic gases’ which are said to have killed
300 people and injured more than 200 others;

(cid:1) the government of the President General Hassan Al Bashir has not yet responded to the accusation
that he wants to hit the population of Darfur, made by the Sudanese people’s liberation army
(SPLM/A);

(cid:1) peace talks between the Sudanese government and SPLM/A have been suspended yet again and the

start of discussions, scheduled for this week, has been postponed until 3 August;

(cid:1) on 11 July the government delegation refused to accept as a basis for the future talks the framework
agreement put
the regional
organisation of the countries of the Horn of Africa which is directing the negotiations, after the
SPLM/A delegation had publicly expressed its satisfaction with the document;

forward by IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development),

(cid:1) since it was signed in July last year no action has been taken on the preliminary protocol of
understanding between the two sides and the Khartoum government seems to have no intention of
giving up or sharing control over the oil-producing areas in the south, the revenue produced or the
new armed forces, which the dictator Al-Bashir has been employing to murder people in Sudan for
many years.

Can the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether, in the light of these events, it intends to denounce the agreement initialled on 10 December
last year with the Sudanese government, since the latter is indiscriminately using its military arsenal
and does not seem to have any intention of implementing the Machakos protocol of July last year;

(cid:1) whether it considers that Al Bashir’s dictatorial regime, responsible for what amounts to genocide of

the non-Muslim population, can ensure peace, prosperity and security in Sudan;

(cid:1) whether it intends to take unified action on behalf of the European Union in all multilateral fora,
starting with the United Nations, to step up international pressure on the Sudanese government to
isolate its murderous dictator?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(25 September 2003)

The Commission, together with the Member States, carefully monitors both the situation regarding respect
for human rights and the evolution of the hostilities in Sudan. Since March 1990, the Commission has
suspended development co-operation with the country.