ABSTRACT: Resolution tabled by Pannella to the European Parliament on 26 th October 1987 and approved on 29th October 1987, on the violation of human rights in Burkina Faso and in particular the assassination of Captain Thomas Sankara, head of State.(DOC.B2 1181/87)

The European Parliament

A. having regard to the military coup of 15 October last in Burkina Faso, the assassination of the President of Burkina,

Captain Thomas SANKARA, and of several dozen other people,

the dismissal of the legal government of the country,the arrest

of a number of ministers and other leading figures,and the

introduction of a curfew,

B. whereas,moreover,a proper government has not yet been set up

and a whole region is refusing to submit to the status quo,

C. whereas President SANKARA was a signatory of the Lome III

Convention, linking the European Communities and their Member States with 66 African,Caribbean and Pacific countries, and whereas President SANKARA'S government was actively engaged in implementing projects financed by the EDF,and whereas the Lome

Convention explicitly refers to the respect of human rights,

D.whereas more than 10 days after the coup d'etat communications with Burkina are still extremely difficult and it is thus impossible to assess the situation on the spot,

E. having regard to its previous resolutions on other military coups d'etat in states party to the Lome Convention,

1. Condemns the assassination of Captain Thomas SANKARA and the other victims, condemns the violations of human rights which have

taken place ,condemns the military coup d'etat of 15 October last

in Burkina Faso

2. Calls on the Commission to suspend the implementation or examination of any EDF co-operation project with Burkina,apart from those concerned with emergency food aid;

3. Calls on the Commission to report to Parliament on the situation in Burkina Faso at the next part-session;

4. Calls on the Foreign Ministers meeting in political co-operation,and the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers to consider the

effects of the coup d'etat on existing relations between the Community,all the member states of the Lome Convention and Burkina Faso;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission ,the Council and the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers.