Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign and European Spokesperson (Paris, December 27, 2011)
Syria – dispatch of Arab League observers
Colombia – murder of Alexa Gomez Polaina
Pakistan – Situation of Asia Bibi
Syria – dispatch of Arab League observers
The first Arab League observers have arrived in Syria at a time when the situation has never been as tragic as in the city of Homs, which is under bombardment from the Syrian army.
The Arab League observers must have access to the entire city and be able to clearly and independently determine the situation there and bring an end to the violence.
In addition, the Arab League observers are undertaking a mission for which they must be able to move throughout Syria without restrictions. The international community will be particularly vigilant with respect to any attempt at dissimulation and manipulation.
The arrival of these observers is obviously not an end in itself; it is the Arab League’s plan in its entirety that must be implemented, which means that the crackdown must stop, political detainees must be released, security forces must withdraw from Syrian cities, and the press must be allowed access to Syrian territory.
Colombia – murder of Alexa Gomez Polaina
France condemns the assassination of Alexa Gomez Polaina, president of an association for the rights of displaced people in Colombia.
This murder took place just after the Alliance of Women of Putumayo, Tejedoras de Vita (“weavers of life”) had received the 2011 French-German Antonio Nariño Human Rights Prize. Together with Tejedoras de Vida, Alexa Gomez Polaina had spearheaded the construction of a monument to women who had fallen victim to violence in the department of Putumayo.
This crime must be fully investigated and its perpetrators must be identified and brought to justice.
France pays tribute to the exemplary struggle of Alexa Gomez Polaina who, despite threats and intimidation, championed respect for fundamental rights throughout her entire life.
With deep emotion, France joins in the mourning of Tejedoras de Vida and the family of Alexa Gomez Polaina, and expresses its solidarity with all victims of violence—and notably women—in Colombia.
As Alain Juppé reiterated on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the defense of universal and indivisible human rights and the protection of all those who devote their lives to them lies at the heart of France’s foreign policy.
Pakistan – Situation of Asia Bibi
Q - Do you have any news of that Pakistani woman sentenced to death for blasphemy?
France once again expresses its deep concern over the situation of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani woman sentenced to death in her country for the crime of blasphemy on November 8, 2010. Imprisoned since her arrest in June 2009, Ms. Bibi, whose physical and psychological health have deteriorated to a worrisome degree, is currently awaiting an appeal of her case by the High Court of Lahore.
France hopes for a swift examination of her appeal in order to end a grave humanitarian situation, given the precariousness of Ms. Bibi’s health.
Q - [inaudible] intervention on the situation of women in certain countries.
Within the range of this unfortunate situation, there is great diversity. Women who cannot drive, vote, choose their own husband; women who are tortured; women who are victims of rape, gang rape, etc. We discussed all these problems at length at the Quai d’Orsay Open House held on December 10, International Human Rights Day. Our fight for women is ongoing throughout the world and at all times.