RESOLUTION B3-1696 and 1767/92

Resolution on human rights in Cameroon

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to Article 5 of Chapter 1 of the Fourth ACP-EEC Convention which recognizes respect for human rights as 'a basic factor of real development',

B. having regard to the Council resolution of 28 November 1991 on human rights, democracy and development and the Council declaration of 18 November 1992 which pointed to the importance of respect for human rights and democracy,

C. having regard to reports that the first presidential elections of 11 October in Cameroon were accompanied by all conceivable forms of fraud, including the report that a number of members of the opposition were murdered while on their way to a regional office to give notification of the number of votes cast,

D. whereas Mr Biya, who proclaimed himself reelected following the official publication of the results on 23 October therefore does not enjoy any democratic legitimacy,

E. whereas Fru Ndi, leader of the Social Democratic Front, and more than 120 of his supporters were placed under house arrest after the elections; whereas some reports give the number of arrests as more than 1000,

F. disturbed at reports that detainees, including many SDF supporters, have been subjected to torture involving daily beatings and electric shocks in the military hospital,

G. alarmed at the report that following a visit to 50 supporters of the SDF in Nkongsamba prison, Dr Bieleu, Fru Ndi's campaign manager, was himself arrested,

H. shocked at reports that after undergoing torture on 18 November 1992, Ghandi Che Ngwa died in the military hospital,

1. Calls on the Commission to conduct an inquiry forthwith into human rights in Cameroon and to submit a report to Parliament;

2. Urges the Council to make known to the Cameroon authorities its alarm at violations of human rights there and to make it clear to the authorities that such violations of human rights may harm cooperation between the Community and Cameroon;

3. Urges the Cameroon authorities to put an end to torture and other forms of inhuman treatment, including the beating of detainees, in prisons and military hospitals;

4. Believes that only democratic dialogue, leading as soon as possible to fresh presidential elections, held under fair campaigning and voting conditions guaranteed by international observers, affords a solution to the present tense situation;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government of Cameroon, the Council and the Commission.