B4-0240, 0249, 0258, 0274, 0298 and 0308/99
Resolution on the situation of human rights in Cuba
The European Parliament,
A. whereas the most recently adopted Cuban laws amending the Penal Code and the National Independence Protection Code extend both their scope and the length of the sentences involved, going so far as to include the death penalty,
B. whereas on 16 July 1997, Vladimiro Roca, Félix Bonne, Marta Beatriz Roque and René Gómez Manzano were arrested and imprisoned without being charged, following the publication of the document 'the motherland belongs to everyone' and which urged electoral abstentionism as a peaceful way of rejecting the Cuban regime,
C. whereas it took almost a year to state that the reason for their imprisonment was 'sedition' and 19 months for the prisoners to come to trial on 1 March this year, and whereas EU diplomats and the media were denied access to the court and a mere 13 hours were required for the court to retire to consider its verdict,
D. whereas fifty members of the opposition were taken into custody and sixty dissidents placed under house arrest on the eve of the trial, to remain so until the end of the trial,
The European Parliament,
1. Rejects the adoption of new laws which, amongst other planned measures, extend the scope of the death penalty and limit the exercise of fundamental freedoms;
2. Calls on the Cuban authorities to release all political prisoners starting with the four on trial;
3. Condemns the imprisonment and house arrest of dissidents and members of the opposition, which flagrantly violates human rights;
4. Calls on the Council and the Commission to continue their efforts to achieve positive change in Cuba through constructive dialogue, while upholding EU principles with regard to respect for human rights and democratic values, and to make sure that EU programmes contribute to this goal;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Cuban authorities and to the National People's Assembly of Cuba.
