WRITTEN QUESTION P-0027/04 by Marco Pannella (NI) to the Commission. Ongoing campaign of murder and torture by Vietnamese Government officials: arrest of Mr Nih, 41 years old, Christian and TRP supporter, on 13 December 2003 in Dak Doa.
Date: 2004-01-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Viet Nam, cooperation agreement (EU), political violence, protection of minorities, religious group

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/483

(2004/C 88 E/0496)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0027/04

by Marco Pannella (NI) to the Commission

(9 January 2004)

Subject: Ongoing campaign of murder and torture by Vietnamese Government officials: arrest of Mr Nih,

41 years old, Christian and TRP supporter, on 13 December 2003 in Dak Doa

On 13 December 2003, a group of Vietnamese paramilitary police from the Dak Doa district surrounded
the village of Plei O Dot, in the commune of Ia Bang, Dak Doa district, Gia Lai province, and arrested two
villagers, Nih (41) and So (44), who were both Christians and supporters of the Montagnard Foundation,
Inc. (MFI) and the Transnational Radical Party (TRP).

Nih and Soh were registered (under numbers 338 and 373 respectively) on the lists of MFI and TRP
supporters, which may be inspected by any national or international authorities wishing to investigate this
incident.

They were both transferred to the Dak Doa district prison and tortured with beatings and electric shocks.
Nih refused to answer questions or to renounce his Christian faith and Major Tuan, of the Dak Doa police,
stabbed him in the chest and then cut his throat.

On 15 December 2003, the Vietnamese police brought Nih’s body to his family in Plei O Dot, preventing
them from holding a funeral and declaring that they wished to show the whole village what happened to
anyone who was not a friend of the Vietnam Government.

We still do not know whether the body has been buried. Nih was a farmer and a lay member of his local
church, who had always rejected government control over its religious activities. He was killed because he
had given food and help to Montagnard refugees hiding in the jungle between Vietnam and Cambodia. He
leaves a widow and three children, who have also been subject to threats and discrimination.

Is the Commission aware of the events described and, if not, how it will follow up its constant assurances
that it has the matter in hand, despite the fact that it has never once admonished, or taken retaliatory
action against, the Vietnamese Government, to ascertain whether, and ensure that, those responsible for
this atrocity are duly tried and the victims of violent acts of this kind are freed immediately?

What it thinks of the fact that the Government of Vietnam regards as a criminal act the exercise of an
individual’s political right to become a member of an NGO with consultative status at ECOSOC and the
UN, such as the Transnational Radical Party, which promotes human rights by non-violent means?

Whether it intends, in the context of the cooperation agreements, to ask for the Central Highlands of
Vietnam to be opened up and for a European delegation to have access to them?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2004)

The Commission is aware of the reports describing the incidents in question in Gia Lai province, but has
not been able to verify them, since it remains difficult to obtain independent and verifiable information on
the situation in the Central Highlands.

As the Honourable Member well knows, the Union follows closely human rights-related issues in Vietnam
and pays particular attention to the situation in the Central Highlands.

As regards the situation in the Central Highlands, the Union has constantly called on the Government of
Vietnam to increase access to the region for Union missions, as well as for the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other UN bodies and representatives, in order to allow a full and
independent first-hand assessment of the situation on the ground. The Government of Vietnam has
allowed the Union to undertake (cid:1) accompanied (cid:1) Troika missions to the region, the latest in December
2003. However, access remains controlled.

C 88 E/484

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

The Union has continually raised concerns about confirmed human rights violations, including cases where
individuals are persecuted for the peaceful expression of
the
Commission wishes to refer the Honourable Member to its joint reply given to written questions E-3001/
03 to E-3003/03 (1) on the issue of reported human rights violations in the Central Highlands which
remains entirely valid.

their personal views.

In this context

(1) OJ C 70 E, 20.3.2004, p. 190.

(2004/C 88 E/0497)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0089/04

by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission

(21 January 2004)

Subject: Management of nuclear waste in Russia

Significant progress was made last year towards setting up a responsible system of management for nuclear
in particular waste from nuclear submarines in the north-west of the country. The
waste in Russia,
Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership can call on considerable funding (over EUR 160 million
available) and the Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Programme for Russia, an agreement with Russia
concerning liability and tax issues in connection with nuclear waste, has been signed, though not ratified.
However, there is no plan of action for the handling and final storage of the waste; coordination between
the various donors could also be improved. It also emerged at a seminar held on 26 November 2003
between the Russian Duma and the European Parliament that numerous issues relating to monitoring
remain unresolved.

What measures has the Commission taken, or what measures is it aware of having been taken, to facilitate
agreement on a plan of action by all parties participating in the clean-up and financing? What guarantees
does the Commission have that nuclear waste clean-up operations result in a high level of safety and that
spent fuel is not used for new military purposes?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 2004)

The Commission has always recognised the magnitude of the problem posed by nuclear waste in Russia
and particularly in the North-West. It has actively promoted a common approach which would strengthen
coordination between the various donors and Russia. The ratification of the MNEPR by the Duma on
28 November 2003 and by the Federation Council on 10 December 2003 opened the way for the
Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership to become effective in the field of nuclear waste
management. The Commission will in 2003/2004, contribute to the Fund a total of EUR 50 million, of
which EUR 40 million will be allocated to the nuclear sector.

The Commission has supported the creation of a Nuclear Operating Committee to ensure a strong
coordination not only of the activities financed by the Fund, but also of the programmes of the many
bilateral donors, almost all of which are represented on this Committee. The first meeting of this
Committee was held on 2 February 2004. It agreed on a project to develop a strategic management plan
for radioactive waste in Northwest Russia. This project will be carried out in the next months and will
provide a sound basis for future coordination and selection of the projects to be supported.

The selection of the projects will have to be done according to criteria in which nuclear safety, security,
cost effectiveness and environmental benefits will be of high importance. The NDEP will only finance
activities aimed at ensuring safe management and storage of nuclear waste (spent nuclear fuel and
radioactive waste) in Northwest Russia.