B3-0163/94

Resolution on the situation in Burundi

The European Parliament,

-recalling its resolution of 28 October 1993 on Burundi,

A.saddened by the wave of ethnic killings, estimated at tens of thousands, that followed the attempted coup of 21 October 1993 which deposed the democratically-elected government and involved the killing of President Ndadaye and other cabinet members,

B.concerned about the health and safety of the reported 800 000 refugees and 150 000 displaced persons that live in extremely precarious conditions in refugee camps, inside and outside Burundi, and suffer from hunger, malnutrition and epidemics,

C.concerned about estimates of more than 100 000 people killed up to the end of December 1993 and fearing that the continuous ethnic killing in the countryside, despite the present calm in the capital Bujumbura, could spread like wildfire to neighbouring countries Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania that already suffer from inter-ethnic strife and violence,

D.anticipating that the loss of many harvests and the abandoning of new planting due to the fighting will result in a severe food shortage over the next six months,

E.judging the response of the international community so far as largely inadequate,

1.Condemns the latest reported killing of 200-300 Hutu that took place just before Christmas in the province of Kirundu;

2.Appeals to all ethnic groups in Burundi to stop the killing and engage in negotiations in a spirit of national reconciliation;

3.Welcomes the election of the new President Cyprian Ntaryamira by the Parliament (by 78 votes to 1), but regrets the recent dissolution of the Constitutional Court which was to ratify the required modification of the Constitution;

4.Reiterates its support for the democratically elected government which issued from the June 1993 elections but which is not at the moment in a position to govern and is only just holding to power in the present climate of violence and instability;

5.Welcomes the UN decision to send an international commission of inquiry and urges the international and intergovernmental organizations to help promote reconciliation and the establishment of a lasting peace in Burundi;

6.Calls on the international community, and in particular on the Commission and on the EU Member States, to foot the cost of the OAU initiative, estimated at USD 6 million, and to send 200 troops to Burundi to promote political mediation and confidence building;

7.Calls on the international community, in particular the Commission and the EU Member States, to assist the government in setting up a commission of inquiry with full powers to investigate human rights abuses and to establish responsibilities in order to bring to justice those alleged to be responsible;

8.Welcomes the recent decision by the Commission to send ECU 3 million of humanitarian aid to Burundi but calls for food aid to be stepped up in view of the anticipated food shortages over the next six months;

9.Calls also on the Commission to step up humanitarian aid to the refugee camps in neighbouring countries, in particular Rwanda, many of which face severe food shortages;

10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Member States, UN, OAU and the Government of Burundi.