B3-1567, 1590, 1612 and 1628/93

Resolution on Togo

The European Parliament,

A.recalling its previous resolutions on Togo,

B.appalled by the steep increase in the last few years of human rights violations - including extra-judicial executions, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention without charge or trial of suspected government opponents - perpetrated by the security forces in Togo,

C.believing that human rights abuses are committed by the security forces on government instructions or at least in the confidence that they will not face prosecution,

D.whereas, on 25 August 1993, the Togolese opposition boycotted the presidential elections won by General Eyadema with 96% of the vote,

E.whereas this result was largely due to electoral fraud, intimidation and other hindrances which compelled the main opposition candidates to withdraw,

F.whereas these presidential elections were heavily criticized by the international observers and the Commission representative in Togo; taking the view that the whole process was manipulated by President Eyadema,

G.whereas the opposition has made its participation in general elections conditional upon better preparations for the ballot to allow genuine pluralist participation in the electoral process and has therefore called for postponement of the elections scheduled for 19 December 1993,

H.alarmed by Amnesty International's report, which describes serious human rights violations and the death in detention of at least 19 people after the presidential election,

1.Strongly condemns the violations of human rights in Togo which not only cause great suffering to the population but also threaten the prosperity and stability of the country and risk destabilising neighbouring countries;

2.Believes that the human rights violations in Togo are part of a deliberate system of oppression of the population, connected with the absence of democracy and the personal power of President Eyadema, and stresses the need for the democratic process to be protected by clear and fair rules;

3.Emphasizes that respect for human rights and the opening of inquiries into current and past violations are essential if there is to be national reconciliation;

4.Is of the opinion that the process of transition towards democracy and the holding of democratic elections presuppose the creation of stable conditions in the country, the consigning to barracks of the army and a prior agreement between the political forces; supports the Togolese opposition's call for the postponement of the general elections which must not be held unless absolutely firm guarantees can be provided that they will take place legally and openly;

5.Calls on the European Union and the United Nations to make an active contribution towards organizing democratic and open elections by providing funds and sending observers;

6.Urges the European Union and all the Member States to take a strong line against President Eyadema's regime, continuing the embargo on Union economic aid, and calls for the suspension of the indicative programme for Togo under the Lomé Convention;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EEC Joint Assembly, the Secretaries-General of the UN and the OAU, the Government of Togo and the Togolese National Electoral Committee.