WRITTEN QUESTION E-3496/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Colombia — ELN hostages.
Date: 2003-11-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Colombia, EU national, EU relations, competence of the Member States, diplomatic protection, illegal restraint, political violence

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/463

(2004/C 88 E/0475)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3476/03

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 November 2003)

Subject: Disappearance of Ethiopian, a former coordinator for EU Aid

Mr Amanti Abdisa Jigi was head of the development department of the Oromo Relief Association (ORA)
before the Ethiopian office was forcibly closed and all assets were seized by the Ethiopian government in
1996. ORA was an officially recognised relief agency whose contributors included Norwegian People’s Aid,
Comic Relief, Christian Aid and the European Commission. Mr Abdisa challenged this closure in court, but
to no avail. On 20 August 2000 Mr Abdisa was upon his arrival to the Addis Ababa airport, escorted off
of the plane in transit to a conference in Kenya and detained by Ethiopian Government forces. On
25 January 2003 Mr Abdisa was seen being transported from the Bole area of Addis Ababa, near the
airport, to a destination believed to be the Shoa Robit prison. His detention violates both international law
and the Ethiopian constitution which states that anyone who is detained should be brought to a court
within 48 hours and given a prompt and fair trial according to international standards.

Since the European Commission has committed EUR 500 million to its programme in Ethiopia over the
next four years, is the office aware of Mr Abdisa’s disappearance? Can the Commission indicate whether or
not it is planning to question various levels of the Ethiopian Government about the control of prisons,
namely Mr Abdisa’s whereabouts and the official legal charges against him? ORA covers the territory of
the Oromo Liberation Front Oromia region, which makes up about 40 % of the total population in
Ethiopia. Challenges in this region have consequences for Europe as there is an ORA office in Germany
helping Ethiopian refugees.

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(10 December 2003)

The Commission has made several unsuccessful attempts to trace Mr Amanti. Neither the Ministry of
Justice, nor the Federal Prisons Authority has any record of his whereabouts. Following the Honourable
Member’s information that Mr Amanti may be in detention in Shoa Robit, the Commission Delegation in
Addis Ababa contacted, through a Member State, the Federal Prisons Authority requesting a search in the
Shoa records. The Commission will keep the Honourable Member informed of any progress.

Any further information which may assist in the search for Mr Amanti would be very welcome to the
Commission. In the Commission’s experience, the Ministry of Justice and Federal Prisons Authority are
helpful
in providing information, even in potentially sensitive cases, as long as records exist. The
Commission is concerned that, for a variety of reasons, such records may simply not exist for Mr Amanti.
No organisation in Ethiopia contacted by the Commission has any records of Mr Amanti.

(2004/C 88 E/0476)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3496/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(24 November 2003)

Subject: Colombia (cid:1) ELN hostages

In a video recording released by Reuters, the Colombian guerrillas of the Ejército de Liberación National
(ELN) have shown that the seven tourists kidnapped on 12 September, whilst visiting Indian ruins, are
alive.

C 88 E/464

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Three of the seven are citizens of EU Member States (Spain, UK and Germany) and four are Israelis.

The ELM has agreed to the gradual release of the hostages, following the visit by a Humanitarian
Commission to testify to the difficult living conditions of the inhabitants of Sierra Nevada, but has warned
that it will kill them should the Colombian army attempt to rescue them.

The Commission:

(cid:1) can it confirm that these hostages are alive and in good health;

(cid:1) what approaches has it made or will it make to the ELN or humanitarian organisations with a view to

encouraging their release;

(cid:1) what approaches has it made to the Colombian Government to make it aware of the hostages’

situation, and to protect their lives and ensure their release?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 2003)

Since the Honourable Member asked his question, two of the three European citizens who had been
abducted have been released by the ELN guerrilla through the mediation of the Catholic Church, with the
assistance of the United Nations (UN). One European citizen is still detained by the ELN guerrilla, who has
promised to free him before Christmas together with the other four Israeli hostages.

According to the persons already released, they were not mistreated by their captors.

The Commission strongly condemns these and all other kidnappings taking place in Colombia, and
demands the immediate and unconditional release of the European citizen and the other persons still
detained. Their captors are accountable for their health and safety.

The Commission has made no approach to the Colombian Government, humanitarian organisations or the
ELN. Diplomatic and consular protection is a competence of
the
Community. Article 20 of the EC Treaty only establishes the right to protection by the diplomatic and
consular authorities of any Member State, on the same conditions as the nationals of that State, in the
territory of a third country where the Member State of which the citizen is a national is not represented.

the Member States, and not of

(2004/C 88 E/0477)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3497/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(24 November 2003)

Subject: Georgia (cid:1) parliamentary elections

The media report that the Georgian opposition is accusing regional government officials of manipulating
the result of the recent parliamentary elections. Thousands have taken to the streets.

Opposition leaders in Georgia are demanding that President Shevarnadze be taken to court, if he does not
sack those responsible for the alleged ballot fraud.

Official sources indicate that the first partial results, with 60 % of the votes counted, show that the
government coalition is 2 % ahead of the opposition.

The Commission:

(cid:1) what information does it have on the Georgian electoral situation?

(cid:1) how much faith does it put in the official results already announced?