During the EP plenary session (15-18 May 2017) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Statements on Zambia, particularly the case of Hakainde Hichilema, by Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), rapporteur, Soraya POST (S&amp;D, SE) and Corina CRETU, Member of the EC in charge of Regional Policy. Statements on Ethiopia, notably the case of Dr Merera Gudina, by Marie-Christine VERGIAT (GUE/NGL, FR), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL) and Corina CRETU, Member of the EC in charge of Regional Policy. Statements on South Sudan by Ignazio CORRAO (EFDD, IT), SOLE Jordi (Greens/EFA, es) and Corina CRETU, Member of the EC in charge of Regional Policy.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Ethiopia (T)

CORRAO, Ignazio (Greens/EFA, IT)

respect for human rights in the world (T)

POST, Soraya (S&D, SE)

VERGIAT, Marie-Christine (GUE/NGL, FR)

EU - South Sudan (T)

TANNOCK, Timothy Charles Ayrton (ECR, UK)

SCHAAKE, Marietje (ALDE, NL)

SOLÉ, Jordi (Greens/EFA, ES)

CREȚU, Corina (S&D, RO)

Cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law: extracts from the debates on Zambia, particularly the case of Hakainde Hichilema - Ethiopia, notably the case of Dr Merera Gudina - South Sudan

ZAMBIA, particularly the case of Hakainde Hichilema : The 2016 elections in Zambia was marred by violent clashes between supporters of the two leading parties, the Patriotic Front and the United Party for National Development (UPND, the opposition party); The UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, who was arrested together with five of his employees by heavily armed police officers in a raid on his house on 11 April. He was accused of endangering the President&rsquo;s life by allegedly obstructing the presidential motorcade in Mongu on 9 April, and was immediately charged with treason, a non-bailable offence in Zambia, as well as with disobeying statutory duty, disobeying lawful orders and using insulting language; whereas he rejected all these allegations. Both the EU and the United States have expressed concern at the incarceration of the opposition leader and have called for a peaceful dialogue between the government and the UPND to ease the tensions that have grown between the two parties.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), rapporteur, The close elections last year seen incumbent President Lungu narrowing beat the opposition Hakainde Hichilema the potential to jeopardize that success concerns are first raised after the Constitutional Court quickly dismissed Hichilema electoral petition with events coming to a head off of the bizarre arrest of Hichilema on charges of treason.

SOUNDBITE (English), Soraya POST (S&amp;D, SE), The leader of the opposition Hakainde Hichilema as been arrested on trumped charges. The government accuses him of treason but has not presented the thread of evidence against him. Mr Hichilema arrest is just the tip of the iceberg civil societies is attack, the judiciary and police is politicised.

SOUNDBITE (English), Corina CRE&#354;U, Member of the EC in charge of Regional Policy, Zambia has traditionally been a peaceful and democratic nation in a neighbourhood so often marked by political instability and human rights violations. It is therefore of all concern that's Zambia&rsquo;s democratic trajectory is being questioned, particularly since the highly contested August 2016 elections which reveal the polarised nature of the country. The arrest of the opposition leader at Hakainde Hichilema on 11 April 2017 resulted in increased political tensions towards the EU was quick to respond by calling all partners to refrain on any action which may aggravate the situation.

ETHIOPIA, notably the case of Dr Merera Gudina: A state of emergency, provided for under the Ethiopian Constitution, was declared on 9 October 2016 by Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. This authorises the military to enforce security nationwide and imposes further restrictions on freedom of speech and access to information. On 30 November 2016, Ethiopian security forces arrested Dr Merera Gudina, the Chairman of the Ethiopian Oromo Federalist Congress opposition party in Addis Ababa, following his visit to the European Parliament on 9 November, where he shared a panel with other opposition leaders and allegedly violated the law implementing the state of emergency. European Parliament urges the Ethiopian Government to fully respect freedom of expression, association and of the press as provided for in the Ethiopian Constitution and to release unjustly detained journalists and bloggers. EU calls on the Ethiopian Government to immediately release on bail and drop all charges against Dr Gudina, Berhanu Nega, Jawar Mohammed and all other political prisoners.

SOUNDBITE (French), Marie-Christine VERGIAT (GUE/NGL, FR), The arrest of Dr Merera Gudina intervene right after he was here and he talked with us about the human rights situation. We cannot remain silent apparently EU - Ethiopia relations could have an impact on migration. This is blackmail! For months the situation is deteriorating particularly since the implementation of the state emergency.

SOUNDBITE (English), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), Counterterrorism laws are being abused, critics are being silenced and farmland has been expropriated . Hundreds of people have been killed last month according to Ethiopia&rsquo;s human rights Commission itself, but human rights organizations NGOs claim more people were killed in demonstrations. Today we call on the government of Ethiopia to respect the rights to freedom of expression including press freedom of critics and to lift the remaining elements of the state of emergency specially to give access to aid organizations for all areas and all people that are in need of assistance.

SOUNDBITE (English), Corina CRE&#354;U, Member of the EC in charge of Regional Policy, Ethiopia is an important partner and the situation catch the EU&rsquo;s close attention. The EU-Ethiopia strategic engagement is the right framework to address issues of concerns. The visit of High Representative Mogherini to Addis Ababa  in March was an opportunity to discuss political developments with the prime minister and emphasizing the imperative to respect human rights  fundamental freedoms under the a state of emergency as well as for a credible political dialogue with the opposition.

SOUTH SUDAN:  South Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war for over three years, which erupted after Salva Kiir, the country&rsquo;s president and a member of the Dinka ethnic group, accused his sacked vice-president, Riek Machar, an ethnic Nuer, of plotting a coup d&rsquo;&eacute;tat against him; whereas Riek Machar has denied attempting a coup. The country is facing famine and economic collapse as a result of the civil war, with over 3.6 million people forced to flee their homes and an estimated 4.9 million people being made food insecure; whereas humanitarian needs have continued to escalate to alarming levels, with an estimated 7.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and more than one million people currently receiving shelter on UN premises. European Parliament Expresses its deepest concern about the grave humanitarian situation throughout the country, which is continuing to deteriorate; calls therefore once again for the EU and its Member States to increase humanitarian aid in order to relieve the famine, and to press the Government of South Sudan to ensure that humanitarian aid supply routes remain open.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ignazio CORRAO (EFDD, IT), South Sudan is collapsing, the civil war has put the country on its knees and now there is a serious risk that the conflict will take a full ethnic dimension and that it can lead to a genocide. Almost half of the population is in bad food condition , if are not the bullets, than it is malnutrition and starvation which kill.

SOUNDBITE (English), SOL&#201; Jordi (Greens/EFA, es), Famine has been declared in some regions and particularly warning is the situation for the children, they make up 62% of the refugees and 17,000 have been used as child soldiers. Arms trafficking is filling the tragedy and the UN report give details about arms trafficking networks within the European Union. This is a clear violation of the EU common position on exports of arms and dual used goods.

SOUNDBITE (English), Corina CRE&#354;U, Member of the EC in charge of Regional Policy, The EU is doing everything possible to encourage peace. The EU undertakes constant political dialogue with a transitional government to urge implementation the 2015 peace agreement we are fully engaged with the regional efforts through the African Union and the intergovernmental authorities on the development to end the conflict . The EU has provided almost half a billion euro for humanitarian assistance to South Sudan since the conflict started it in December 2013.