I. extremely worried by the renewed insurgency of the PKK guerrillas in south-eastern Turkey, bringing daily clashes with the Turkish army which have already claimed many victims,

59. Condemns the seizure of power by King Gyanendra and the Royal Nepalese Army on 1 February 2005 and the severe censorship law; is alarmed at increased reports of disappearances of persons throughout the country and attacks on human rights activists, journalists, opposition political groups and civil society groups; denounces the serious abuses perpetrated by the guerrillas throughout the conflict which has ravaged the country since 1999; calls on the King to restore democratic rule and communication links, to free all political leaders and human rights defenders and to respect freedom of expression and assembly;

The judge in question specifically writes that ‘violent or guerrilla activities, even if carried out by armed forces other than regular forces, cannot be prosecuted even under international law, provided there is no breach of international humanitarian law’.

MAIN POLICY RESPONSES/MEASURES - A significant part of EC assistance directed to governance related areas (demobilisation and rehabilitation of the former guerrilla and armed forces; improvement of the citizens' security by creating and ensuring the functioning of civil police; strengthening the judicial system; giving legal protection to property by introducing a national land register; support of the National Ombudsman for human rights).

– It is my duty today with the support of all the Members of this House and particularly with the support of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy to express on behalf of the European Parliament our deep concern at the kidnapping of a parliamentarian and candidate in the forthcoming presidential elections in Colombia, Mrs Ingrid Betancourt, a kidnapping by the so-called Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Columbian People's Army FARC.

Despite the government's efforts to open peace talks with the main guerrilla movements, the violence seems to be escalating this year, bringing with it an atmosphere of increasing insecurity.