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EU Parliament group wants Europe to "re-consider relations with Moldova after Pride violence"
The European Union ought to reconsider its relations with Moldova, says an EU Parliament group. The statement comes after Sunday's anti-gay violence which was tacitly supported by Moldova's authorities. Transdniestria is seen as being more tolerant and better at protecting minority rights.
Trapped inside a bus surrounded by a homophobic mob, participants in a peaceful march on Sunday were forced to cancel the eventBRUSSELS (Tiraspol Times) - In a public statement from a group of European parliamentarians, Moldova is once again taken to task for its state-supported policy of violence against gays.
Members of the European Parliament who focus on gay and lesbian rights in Europe say that the EU should re-consider relations with Moldova after Sunday's Gay Pride violence which forced the cancellation of a peaceful march and trapped sixty participants inside a bus for hours.
On Sunday, 11 May 2008, would-be participants of the Pride parade in the capital of Moldova, Chisinau, were attacked by violent members of the neo-fascist movement "New Right". Police forces merely observed the violence and attacks and did not bother to intervene, representatives of European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights stated in a press release.
The 60 people on the bus sought to travel to the Moldovan capital in defiance of a ban or a pride march – the sixth time such a ban had been imposed. There, at least three times as many protesters surrounded their bus, forced open the doors, and seized their banners and flags while police watched from half a dozen patrol cars parked nearby.
Michael Cashman wants Moldova's anti-gay violence discussed within the European Parliament.
" - How can you fail to uphold the basic right to protection against violence and freedom of movement?", said Michael Cashman, President of the Intergroup. "I will raise this issue within the European Parliament. I will also ask the Moldovan government for an explanation."
" - It is unacceptable that Moldova exposes its own citizens, along with foreign visitors, to such violent attacks," said Raul Romeva, Vice-President of the Intergroup for Greens/EFA.
" - Perhaps the European Union should reconsider its relations with a state so gravely breaching International Human Rights Obligations," the MEP added.
- Criticism of human rights, democracy
According to one of the Members of the European Parliament ("MEP"), the anti-gay attacks in Moldova show a lack of respect for human rights and democracy.
Raul Romeva calls Moldova "a state so gravely breaching International Human Rights Obligations."
He thinks the EU should now re-consider its relations with Moldova after Sunday's gay bashing attacks.
Sirpa Pietikäinen, Vice-President of the Intergroup for the EPP-ED added, "EU-Moldova relations are based on the acceptance and implementation of EU values of respect for human rights and democracy. The police should have intervened to respect law and order. These are basic fundamental principles of democracy."
In 2006, Moldova signed up to a statement at the UN Human Rights Council expressing “deep concern at these ongoing human rights violations [against lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people]. The principles of universality and non-discrimination require that these issues be addressed.” Critics say that Moldova often signs statements it never plans to keep. In the case of the disputed territory of Transdniestria, more than one hundred agreements have been signed which Tiraspol complains that Moldova has subsequently either ignored or breached.
Sirpa Pietikäinen says relations between EU and Moldova must be based on respect for human rights and democracy.
In contrast to Moldova, there is a more tolerant and free climate in Pridnestrovie - an unrecognized country also known as Transdniestria, or Transdniester - where its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community has freely organized public events throughout the past three years.
On the European Parliament's Intergroup website, Pridnestrovie (which is referred to as Transnistria) has been highlighted as a positive role model for Moldova when it comes to tolerance and the protection of minority rights.
See also:
» Moldova police helping gay bashers attack minorities
» EU Parliament group slams Moldova over gay crackdown; praises PMR
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