European Parliamentarians call for EU co-sponsorship of China resolution
Submitted by ICT Europe
March 29, 2000, Brussels. Today, Members of the national parliaments of
Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway,
Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom,
Members of the European Parliament and staff representatives of the U.S.
Congress met in Brussels to discuss the continuing Chinese occupation of
Tibet.
Parliamentarians present had the opportunity to hear the U.S. Special
Coordinator for Tibetan Issues explain U.S. efforts on Tibet. The Tibet
Coordinator urged support at the 56th session of the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) for the U.S.-sponsored resolution on
China. She welcomed the expressions of interest of parliamentarians to
establish focal points in each country to help coordinate information and
advocacy on Tibetan issues.
Parliamentarians present also heard from senior leaders in the Tibetan
Government in Exile about the deteriorating situation in Tibet and China's
refusal to engage in a constructive dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai
Lama or his representatives.
Parliamentarians present were unanimous in their evaluation that the U.S.,
E.U., U.K. and French bilateral dialogues with China on human rights have
failed to produce tangible improvements in China and Tibet. On the
contrary, this past year has seen an increase in political repression and
restrictions on religious freedom.
As the UNCHR is the authoritative forum to address the grave human rights
abuses committed by China, parliamentarians present called on the European
Union to co-sponsor the U.S.-sponsored resolution on China at the 56th
session of the UNCHR.
Parliamentarians present strongly believe and asserted that unified support
for the rights of the Tibetan and Chinese peoples do not threaten bilateral
relationships but promotes the principle of the universality of human
rights.
Parliamentarians present pledged to bring before their individual
parliaments a resolution calling on the Chinese leadership to enter into
meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives leading to a
negotiated settlement, and supporting the Dalai Lama's Five Point Peace
Plan containing the following components: (1) transformation of the whole
of Tibet into a zone of peace; (2) abandonment of China's population
transfer policy; (3) respect for the Tibetan people's fundamental human
rights and democratic freedoms; (4) restoration and protection of Tibet's
natural environment; and (5) commencement of earnest negotiations on the
future status of Tibet.
Parliamentarians present also agreed to urge their MEPs to promote a
similar resolution at the level of the European Parliament.
Discussion Draft Resolution on Tibet
Whereas governmental and non-government organizations have reported an
increase in political repression and restrictions on religious freedoms in
Chinese occupied Tibet in 1999;
.
Recognizing that bilateral dialogues on human rights with the Government of
the People's Republic of China have failed to produce meaningful
improvements in the human rights of the Chinese and Tibetan peoples;
Commending the Government of the United States for introducing a resolution
on China at the 56th session of the United Nations Commission on Human
Rights;
Calls on the European Union to co-sponsor a resolution on China at the 56th
session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights;
Calls on the Chinese leadership to enter into meaningful dialogue with His
Holiness the Dalai Lama a negotiated political settlement;
Expresses strong support for the Dalai Lama's Five Point Peace Plan
containing the following components: (1) transformation of the whole of
Tibet into a zone of peace; (2) abandonment of China's population transfer
policy; (3) respect for the Tibetan people's fundamental human rights and
democratic freedoms; (4) restoration and protection of Tibet's natural
environment; and (5) commencement of earnest negotiations on the future
status of Tibet.
