RESOLUTION B3-0077 and 0093/93

Resolution on Morocco

The European Parliament,

A.concerned at the repression of democrats, and in particular of trade unionists, in Morocco at a time when the Moroccan Government has announced the intention of beginning a process of democratization and has applied for the Vice-Presidency of the UN World Conference on Human Rights scheduled for June 1993 in Vienna,

B.whereas Mr Noubir Amaoui, general secretary of the Democratic Labour Confederation and member of the political bureau of the USFP (Socialist Union of Political Forces), who was arrested and on 17 April 1992 sentenced to two years' imprisonment following a statement made to the newspaper 'El Païs', has still not been released,

C.whereas, during the trial, Mr Noubir Amaoui's right to a fair hearing was not respected, and whereas attacks were made on press freedom following the trial,

D.informed that Mr Amaoui's appeal will be brought before the Rabat Appeal Court on 21 January 1993,

E.whereas Driss Ghnimi, regional secretary of the Moroccan General Workers' Union, was arrested and, on 18 May 1992, imprisoned for five years, in reality for supporting a strike of agricultural workers,

F.whereas, on 20 November 1992, Mr Ahmed Belaichi, a local representative of the Moroccan human rights organization 'Al-Hoceïma', was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment,

G.concerned at the persistence of human rights violations in Morocco, as demonstrated in the recent reports by the International Federation of Human Rights and Amnesty International,

1.Condemns the arrest and sentencing of Noubir Amaoui, Driss Ghnimi and Ahmed Belaichi and demands their immediate release and that of all prisoners of conscience, and of all those imprisoned for their political or trade union activity, with a guarantee of their safety after release;

2.Calls on the Moroccan Government to state the truth concerning the situation of the disappeared persons and to put an end to political imprisonment, illegal kidnapping and restrictions on fundamental freedoms, thus respecting the international conventions to which Morocco is a signatory;

3.Calls on the Community authorities and the governments of the Member States to take all possible steps in the context of political, economic and trade relations to oblige the Moroccan Government to release all those imprisoned for their political or trade union activity and to cease its policy of human rights violations;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States, the United Nations Secretary-General and the Moroccan Government.