Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-07-03-Speech-4-186"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2003-07-03"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Laos2
dcterms:Language	"fr"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20030703.12.4-186"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2003-07-03-Speech-4-1872
lpv:speaker	lp:Véronique De Keyser2
lpv:spokenAs	member; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; PES (2001-09-25--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Parti socialiste (2001-09-25--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America and Mexico (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, in the world rankings for freedom of the press compiled by Reporters sans frontières, Laos occupies the unenviable place of 133rd out of 140. To give you some indication, Italy comes 40th, after Benin and South Korea. In Laos, the media remains entirely in the hands of the only political party and its parliament is taking its time over adopting a law that will allow private media ownership, which was promised in 2001. There is still no news of the five leaders of the October 1999 movement who have disappeared, including Thongpaseuth Kenakoun, the author of several articles and pamphlets on the situation in Laos and the need for democratic reform. The case of Thierry Falise and Vincent Reynaud is not, therefore, a judicial accident. It has arisen in a climate of ongoing breaches of human rights and the scandalous verdict that sentenced them to fifteen years in prison on 1 July raises at least two questions. The first is that of the freedom of the press in general, which as we have seen is often flouted, even in Europe. This freedom is one of the pillars of democracy and we must defend it at all costs. The second issue concerns the democratic clause of the cooperation agreements, which could often be described as a clause in form only: a hollow shell. Can we expect Europe to be taken seriously, however, when, having signed an agreement, it does not ensure that this clause is respected, by means of appropriate sanctions? We know, as Mrs André-Léonard has confirmed, that the joint pressure exerted by Belgium, France, the United States and the European Union will probably lead to the release of Falise, Reynaud and Naw Karl Mua, which will be a relief for everyone. I call on Parliament, however, also to call for the release of Thao Moua, Tha Char Yang, the two guides, Pa Phue Khang, their driver, and a fourth, unknown Laotian, because they are neither reporters nor foreigners. They are simply Laotians. The sentences they received range from 12 to 20 years in prison and we cannot, Mr President, wash our hands of them."@en1

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