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Dictatorial party in Tunisia is PES friend
Date2007/02/08 15:30 by: Ruy CamposWhy the PES is withdrawing from a Tunis conference arguing violation of human rights and lack of democracy?
The governing dictatorial party in Tunisia, Rassemblement Democratique Constitutionale (RCD) is a FULL member of the Socialist International since 90's... So, the dictatorial party of Tunisia (as well as the ruling dictatorial party of Egypt- NDP which is also a full member of the Socialist International) is considered "DEMOCRATIC" by the biggest socialist organization in the world and therefore one of the best party friends of Mr. Nyrup Rassmussen and the PES and if the PES wants to have any kind of credibility it should promote the ban of the RCD and NDP from the Socialist International. SHAME ON YOU PES! -
Re:Dictatorial party in Tunisia is PES friend
Date2007/02/09 19:31 by: Yonnec PoletThe PES decided to withdraw from an International conference on the « Role of civil society in building a united Maghreb » being held in Tunis on 2-3 February 2007 and co-organised by the Fredriech Ebert Foundation (FES) and the newspaper Mouatinoun because of the pressures made by the Tunisian Foreign Affairs Ministry on the FES.
The Friedrich Ebert Foundation was told by the Tunisian Foreign Affairs Ministry that its involvement was illegal and contravened a cooperation convention between the Tunisian Government and the Foundation. The Foreign Ministry objected to the political nature of the conference and insisted that the Foundation should only be involved in training and research or assisting Tunisian partners in economic, scientific, cultural and social fields.
The PES can't accept such argument against a well recognised organisation linked to the social democratic party of Germany, SPD, that is aiming at jeopardizing an event organised by the newspaper of a political party, FDTL, that is member of the SI.
The PES condemns all governments or regimes that contradicts those basic principles. The PES has done several declarations in the past demanding the Tunisian authorities, and therefore the ruling party RCD, to respect the rights of association, freedom of speech and universal human rights principles.
The PES is determined to contribute to the promotion of social democratic values and will not tolerate any abuse against Human rights.
Since 2002 the PES has decided to not invite both RCD and NDP to its activities and instead to support democratic forces from the region. The PES, as many of its member parties, believes that the RCD should not belong any longer to the SI.
