WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3673/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Elections in Cambodia
C 158/174 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 5. 98 (98/C 158/233) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3673/97 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (19 November 1997) Subject: Elections in Cambodia Can the Commission give details of what measures it will be taking to assist the holding of elections in Cambodia next year? Over the past few months, there have been persistent reports of human rights abuses in Cambodia. These have included the intimidation and harassment of political activists and the imprisonment of many journalists and human rights activists. As a result of these abuses, fears have been expressed that the elections may not be held in a peaceful atmosphere. Will the Commission be taking any particular steps to ensure that the safety of candidates participating in the elections is guaranteed? Answer given by Mr Mar ·n on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1997) The Commission allocated ECU 9. 5 million to the electoral process in Cambodia after receiving the Member Statesí approval at the meeting of the ALA Committee on 11 September. Some ECU 7 million will be used to draw up an electoral register and the remainder will go towards the arrangements for a system of observers. The Commission is aware of the political situation in Cambodia and has been closely monitoring it with the Member States, the United Nations and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean). It has also kept a watchful eye on human rights abuses which have already been exposed. It has introduced a specific clause suspending its support for the elections in the event of further abuses in order to discourage an electoral climate which might foster intimidation and violence. Measures to protect candidatesí safety will require close cooperation with each representative of the international community involved in the elections and, more particularly, with those persons responsible for gathering information, examining cases and applying the procedures intended to protect candidates in the elections. (98/C 158/234) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3674/97 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (19 November 1997) Subject: Involvement of the Total oil company in Burma The French oil company Total and the US company Unocal are both involved in building a natural gas pipeline in Burma. The two companies are in a partnership with the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which is controlled by the ruling military junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Burmese troops are reported to have been used by the two companies to provide security and oversee construction of the pipeline. There are numerous allegations that the troops have been involved in human rights abuses, including forced labour, involuntary relocations, torture, rape and in some cases murder. Oil companies, including Total and Unocal, are the largest legal source of foreign currency to the SLORC. The Burmese military regime has been widely condemned by the international community for its abuse of human rights and democracy