European Parliament resolution on the situation in Fiji
Date: 2006-12-14
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Fiji, coup d'état, political crisis

C 317 E/898

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

23.12.2006

Thursday, 14 December 2006

P6_TA(2006)0605

Fiji

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Fiji

The European Parliament,

— having regard to its previous resolution of 8 September 2000 on the situation in Fiji (1),

— having regard to the EU Presidency statement of 5 December 2006 on the military coup in Fiji,

— having regard to the statement of 5 December 2006 by the UN Secretary-General on the military's

seizure of power in Fiji,

— having regard to the declaration by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of 6 December 2006,

— having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Commodore Bainimarama overthrew the democratically elected government of Fiji with the
coup d'état of 5 December 2006, showing contempt for the Fijian constitution and the rule of law, for
the people of Fiji and Fiji's traditional institutions,

B. whereas two military coups d'état took place in May and September 1987 led by Lieutenant Colonel

Sitiveni Rabuka and indigenous Fijians,

C. whereas on 19 May 2000 an armed group took the first ethnic Indian Prime Minister, Mahendra

Chaudhry and several Members of Parliament hostage for several weeks,

D. whereas the crisis is crippling Fiji's economy — delaying sugar production, dramatically reducing

activities in the tourist sector and putting thousands out of work,

E. whereas development aid to the Fiji Islands under the 9th European Development Fund, equivalent to
23 million euros, was restored by the EU in 2004, with the aim of providing equal access to education
and training for all ethnic groups,

F. whereas respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law constitutes an essential
element of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, which governs relations between the ACP States and the
European Union,

G. whereas development cooperation between Fiji and the EU dates back to 1975,

H. whereas the Commonwealth has decided to suspend Fiji's membership of its decision-making councils,

1.
Strongly condemns the take-over of power from the democratically elected government of Fiji by the
Fijian military forces and reiterates its strongest possible opposition to actions that undermine the demo-
cratic process in Fiji;

2. Demands that
government;

the military forces stand back and return power

to the democratically elected

Believes that a lasting resolution of the current political crisis can only be achieved through peaceful

3.
means, respecting the concerns and interests of all communities;

4.
Stresses that peaceful opposition to the military regime is taking shape followingthe ousted Prime
Minister's call for peaceful resistance and with both the Great Council of Chiefs and influential church
groups already denouncing the coup;

(1) OJ C 135, 7.5.2001, p. 302.

23.12.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 317 E/899

Thursday, 14 December 2006

5. Recalls that Fiji held general elections in May 2006, which were deemed credible by international obser-
vers, notably including a substantial EU Election Observation Mission;

6. Recalls that the coalition government formed by Prime Minister Qarase following the elections has full
democratic legitimacy as well as a very large majority in Parliament;

Stresses that the future of Fiji's multiethnic society depends on the credibility and legitimacy of demo-

7.
cratic institutions as supported by all communities;

Suggests that a ‘truth and reconciliation commission’ be set up in Fiji as a contribution to peaceful

8.
coexistence between the country's two main communities;

9. Calls on the Commission and Member States to suspend immediately all non-humanitarian aid to Fiji,
as specified in Article 96 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement;

10. Calls on the EU to put in place an immediate travel ban to prevent members of the military forces,
their families or any person linked to the coup d'état in Fiji from entering the Member States;

11. Calls on all Members of the Pacific Islands Forum and other regional and international actors to exert
pressure to resolve the situation and to achieve long-lasting political, economic and social stability in Fiji;

the Member States,

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments
the
the Secretary-General of
including Australia and New

12.
the Secretary-General of
of
Commonwealth, the governments of the Pacific Islands Forum countries,
Zealand, and the governments of the Post-Forum Dialogue Partner Countries, including the United States.

the United Nations,

P6_TA(2006)0606

Implication of UN forces in sexual abuses in Liberia and in Haiti

European Parliament resolution on the involvement of UN forces in sexual abuse in Liberia and Haiti

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the UN High-Level Conference on Eliminating Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN
and Non-Governmental-Organisation Personnel held in New York on 4 December 2006 and the
Secretary-General's remarks to that conference,

— having regard to the fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War (1949) and the additional protocols which stipulate that women shall be protected against rape and
all other forms of sexual violence,

— having regard to the UN Declaration of 20 December 1993 on the Elimination of Violence against

Women and the United Nations Convention of 20 November 1989 on the Rights of the Child,

— having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on Women, Peace

and Security,