B4-0416, 0436, 0444, 0451, 0465 and 0476/95

Resolution on the situation in Equatorial Guinea

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its earlier resolutions on the situation in Equatorial Guinea, in particular its resolution of 27 October 1994 and the resolution adopted at the most recent ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Session in Dakar in February 1995,

A.seriously concerned at the developments in the process of democratization in Equatorial Guinea,

B.whereas Equatorial Guinea is a signatory to the Fourth Lomé Convention and, therefore, to Article 5 of the Convention concerning human rights and democracy,

C.concerned at the continuing obstruction of the process of democratization by the Government in Malabo,

D.concerned at the detention, trial and conviction of the Chairman of the Party of Progress (PP), Mr Severo Moto, and of the Secretary of Finance of the same party, Mr Tomás Elo Aka,

E.whereas, even if the judgment against Mr Moto and Mr Elo Aka is reversed on appeal, their conviction will paralyze political dialogue with the opposition and, therefore, the process of democratization,

1.Strongly condemns the suspension of the active and passive civil rights of Mr Moto and Mr Elo Aka;

2.Strongly condemns their disqualification from holding public office;

3.Calls on the authorities in Equatorial Guinea rigorously to respect human rights and to speed up the establishment of democratic and legal institutions;

4.Demands an end to repression against party leaders and activists of the democratic opposition;

5.Demands that the recommendations of the United Nations Special Rapporteur are complied with;

6.Demands the fulfilment of the commitments entered into at the meeting of the Group of Donors held in June 1994 with the opposition and the countries concerned;

7.Calls on the Council and the Commission to spur the Government of Equatorial Guinea to adopt measures to that effect and for all the necessary precautions to be adopted with regard to cooperation with Equatorial Guinea as long as the respect of human rights and political democratization are not guaranteed;

8.Calls for its previous resolutions on Equatorial Guinea to be implemented;

9.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the Joint Opposition Platform of Equatorial Guinea, the Government of Equatorial Guinea and to the signatory countries of the Lomé Convention.