RESOLUTION B3-1437, 1451 and 1469/92

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to the spate of violent attacks committed recently in Togo, including:

- the attack on 6 May on a vehicle convoy transporting (among others) Mr Gilchrist Olympio, one of the leaders of the Togolese opposition,

- the grenade attack on the Togolese Parliament on 10 July in Lomé,

- the death in Paris on 29 July of Mr Tavio Amorin, head of the Pan-African Socialist Party, who had been seriously injured in an attack in Lomé on 23 July,

- the incident on 22 October in which soldiers took hostage, in unacceptable circumstances, a large proportion of the members of the High Council of the Republic,

- the three military coup attempts which were made by the previous regime in October, November and December 1991 and resulted in over 500 deaths and numerous abductions,

B. having regard to the report of a committee of inquiry of the International Human Rights Federation (IHRF) which blamed the attack on Mr Olympio on elements in the army,

C. having regard to the decisions taken by the Togolese National Conference in July 1991, which led to the formation of a transitional government responsible for preparing a new Constitution and free elections in 1992,

D. having regard to the compromise reached on 15 August between General Nyassingbe Eyadema and the opposition, whereby municipal, legislative and presidential elections were to be held before the end of the year,

E. whereas according to international observers in Togo the army, which supports President Eyadema, is still the main obstacle to the democratization of the country,

1. Condemns firmly the repression and human rights violations to which opposition leaders have been subjected;

2. Calls on the Council and Commission to bring all necessary pressure to bear on General Eyadema's regime to prevent the transitional period, which was extended by 4 months under the agreement reached on 15 August, from becoming a bloodbath, to guarantee the safety of property and individuals, to ensure that elections take place in accordance with the planned timetable and electoral law and to put an immediate stop to all army interference with opposition leaders and the population at large;

3. Is concerned at the series of attacks and intimidation perpetrated against Togolese women who actively seek to defend democracy;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Co-presidents of the ACP-EEC Joint Assembly.