Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-11-18-Speech-4-136"
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"en.20041118.11.4-136"2
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".
Mr President, distinguished Members of Parliament, I appreciate your contributions, which were completely unequivocal. The Commission shares your views and is greatly concerned at the Eritrean Government's tightening of its grip in the area of human rights.
The government is introducing restrictions on freedom of expression and the right to information, association and movement. Some of these points have been elaborated by Mrs Lichtenberger and Mr Kohlíček. The Commission regrets that there are no indications that democratic reforms will be introduced in the foreseeable future.
The restriction of religious freedom is part of the overall trend of severely restricting civil and political rights in Eritrea. The Commission is aware of recent reports from different international partners to the effect that the Eritrean government has violated human and religious rights and is restricting freedom of worship for some religious minorities. According to various sources of information, the government has harassed, arrested and detained members of non-approved religious groups, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, and adherents of the Baha'i faith.
On 4 November, the Commission witnessed events in Asmara during which Eritrean security forces indiscriminately arrested thousands of youths suspected of evading military conscription. These arrests took place in the streets, shops and offices, at roadblocks and in homes. Those arrested are being held in army prisons and are thought to be at serious risk of ill treatment. Reports say that some have been shot dead and that many more were wounded following a disturbance at one prison. Relatives and lawyers have no access to the prisoners.
So what is being done? The Commission is endeavouring to address the problem through support for NGO projects in Eritrea in the areas of human and civil rights awareness, strengthening of civil society organisations and independent media. Eritrea is a focal country under the European initiative for democracy and human rights and is allocated EUR 1.6 million per year from this budget line. It has been difficult though to identify civil society and human rights projects because of the weak capacity of local civil society and the fragile political situation.
Secondly, the Commission considers that we are seeing a pattern of human rights violations and, in coordination with Member States, is closely following developments. The Commission is analysing the situation and will soon present proposals on the basis of Cotonou Agreement, as was called for by Mr Kohlíček, Mr Gahler and Mr Tannock. However, the Commission must emphasise that it has been very difficult to establish dialogue with the government of Eritrea. Now that it has been established, the Commission considers that it should be pursued with a view to seeking improvements in the internal situation and external relations. We wish to avoid threats and feel that confidence-building is more likely to contribute to an improvement of the human rights situation. The Commission will continue, as part of this dialogue, to address human rights violations, and in particular the case of the so-called Asmara-11 group and the continued detention of independent journalists.
In conclusion, on regional relations, the European Union is anxious, as a witness to the Algiers agreement on the solution of the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea, to maintain open, balanced and measured dialogue with both parties."@en1
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