RESOLUTION B3-0196 and 0246/93

Resolution on Kenya

The European Parliament,

A.recalling that more than 800 people died in inter-tribal political violence in the run-up to the first multi-party general elections of 29 December 1992,

B.whereas a number of irregularities and acts of violence were observed during the campaign but whereas the election is a first step towards a parliamentary democracy,

C.whereas the opposition accepted the election results and attended the swearing-in ceremony on the opening of Parliament on 27 January 1993,

D.angry at President Daniel Arap Moi for suspending the first session of Parliament,

1.Condemns the arbitrary behaviour of the president and calls on him to reopen Parliament immediately to avoid the misuse of presidential constitutional powers and to allow the elected members to exercise their electoral mandate;

2.Urges the newly elected members to work towards a genuine democracy;

3.Calls on the President to ensure that there is no violation of human rights and that the democratic process is respected;

4.Calls on the international community, the EC and aid donors to bring pressure to bear on President Arap Moi not to undermine the Kenyan Parliament's authority by suspending it indefinitely, an act that may prejudice the elected members' parliamentary immunity;

5.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EEC Joint Assembly and President Arap Moi.