"U.S. admits to torture"
EU Parliament sees complicity of European states in illegal CIA activities
In an interim report to the European Parliament, the U.S. Central
Intelligence Agency makes in some cases directly responsible "for the
illegal seizure, removal, abduction and detention of terrorist
suspects" in Europe. The report criticized the continued involvement
and "complicity of certain EU countries." The interim report by
Giovanni Claudio FAVA (PES, Italy) was in the committee of inquiry "on
the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the
transportation and illegal detention of prisoners" have been
developed. The fight against terrorism, now that Parliament could not
be won "by the same principles can be sacrificed, which seeks to
destroy terrorism." In particular, the protection of fundamental
rights could "never be jeopardized." Not responsible Standing
Committee has given the green light by the deputies to continue its
work for another six months. The report was adopted with 389 votes
against 137 votes against with 55 abstentions.
All the work of the Standing Committee appear according to the
European Parliament "seems to show" that the European airspace and
airports in Europe by CIA front companies were used to terror suspects
unlawful "in custody" of the CIA or U.S. military or in other
countries - including Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Afghanistan - to lead,
"which, as the government admits the United States itself, moreover,
frequently use torture during interrogations."
The CIA or other U.S. intelligence agencies were in a number of cases
directly responsible for the illegal seizure, removal, abduction and
detention of terrorist suspects on the territory of the Member States,
acceding and candidate countries and the extraordinary renditions,
among others, European nationals or in Europe people responsible.
Ignorance of European governments 'unlikely'
The Parliament considers it "unlikely" that some European governments
were not aware of the activities in the context of the extraordinary
renditions, which were located in their territory. "Quite likely" it
is that hundreds of flights and a similar number of movements may have
taken place at European airports, "without the security and
intelligence services were aware of it" was.
This assumption was corroborated by the fact that leading politicians
of the U.S. government have always claimed to have proceeded without
having violated the national sovereignty of European countries. It is
about unlikely that the kidnapping was carried out by CIA agents of
the Egyptian Abu Omar in Milan organized without prior notice to the
Italian authorities or security services and was carried out.
Also sorry for the MPs, the expulsion of two Egyptian Mohammed Al Zary
and Ahmed Agiza, Sweden, which had been based solely on diplomatic
assurances from the Egyptian government, which meant, but did not
provide effective protection against torture.
Also had the role of U.S. soldiers who were members of the
Stabilization Force (SFOR) led by NATO, are clarified by the
kidnapping and rendition six nationals or residents of Algerian origin
from Bosnia to Guantanamo Bay. The possible role of the Bosnian
government in this case should be further investigated.
The deputies have in connection with the allegations against EU member
states apply the Group of European People's Party, EPP-ED assumed
fraction, where they "take note of the contributions of Mr. De Vries,
EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, and Mr. Solana, High Representative
for the Common Foreign and Security Policy ". Those who indicated that
they were "no violation of national, European or international law by
cooperating with the CIA Member States known" are. They had but added
that they "have no power to demand relevant information from the
Member States" under EU law.
Breach of European Convention on Human Rights by member states?
The Parliament "deplores the fact that no European government has
checked whether civilian aircraft are being used for purposes
incompatible with internationally recognized human rights norms." MEPs
point out that the Member States to prevent the violation of human
rights on their territory, as they investigate alleged violations and
punish those responsible must, if such injury took place. They could
therefore be held accountable for violating the European Convention on
Human Rights to account when they have not fulfilled their
obligations.
"Unacceptable" are furthermore the process of some governments'
responsibilities to limit "their, by asking for diplomatic assurances
from countries where there are strong reasons to believe that torture
is practiced. Such diplomatic assurances from the committee of the
European Parliament considered a "tacit admission of the existence of
torture in third countries."
The case of Khaled El-MasriDie kidnapping of German citizen Khaled
El-Masri by the CIA, "which was held from January to May 2004,
captured in Afghanistan and subjected to degrading and inhuman
treatment" was condemned. Either the suspect has not been ruled out
that Khaled El-Masri previously, 31 December 2003 to 23 January 2004,
unlawfully detained in Macedonia and from there on 23/24. January was
spent in 2004 to Afghanistan. Which are in this context by the
Macedonian government measures undertaken "inadequate".
Secret prisons
In another adopted "Amendment" of the Group of European People's Party
MPs declare that the work of the Committee of Inquiry have so far
revealed no evidence or proof of the existence of secret prisons in
the EU. The deputies "but argued that this will focus the work of the
Standing Committee in the coming months more on this subject."
MEPs stress that must be examined "whether there is any evidence of
secret prisons in some European countries, as alleged in several
investigations by journalists and relevant NGOs."
In addition, the investigation would be continued to clarify the
alleged existence of secret detention facility in Kosovo and the
possible involvement of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) in the illegal
detention of terrorist suspects.
"Clearly prohibited" required extraordinary renditions in international law
Unlawful arrests, deportations or kidnappings or stood in line with
accepted norms of international law nor with the fundamental
principles of human rights law, says the interim report. Cases of
incommunicado detention, abduction or extraordinary rendition are
violations of fundamental rights and are "synonymous with torture or
inhuman and degrading treatment."
It was "urgently necessary to anchor to be clearly prohibited in
international law of extraordinary rendition." In addition, should
legal action at the level of the EU and the Council of Europe launched
"as soon as possible" to ensure adequate legal protection for persons
who were placed under the jurisdiction of the Member States, both at
national and at European level, an "effective parliamentary oversight
the intelligence services "to ensure. Set up and operation of the
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights was therefore
"essential".
The committee will continue its work for the remainder of his 12-month
appointment. The final report will be completed in January or February
2007.
The press office of the European Parliament points out that several
other amendments were not of the Group of European People's Party and
the Union for Europe of the Nations (UEN) to the vote in plenary
today. The proposals would have had the goal of "the allegations of
the involvement of the CIA and the U.S. government to mitigate and
noted that there is insufficient evidence (eg, amendments 20, 32, 33,
38, 42 rejected)." For this reason, many members of the two factions
would have voted against the report or abstain from voting.
