Agenda item 18

Oral Statement by Marino Busdachin,

representative of the The Transnational Radical Party

NGO in consultative status (Category I)

Mr. Chairperson:

The Transnational Radical Party continues to be alarmed by numerous Reports coming from many countries whith detailing violations of human right , particularly the denial of religious freedom. We, however, really appreciated and support the work of the Special Rapporteur Mr. Abdelfattah Amor as evident in his exhaustive report.

We remain deeply concerned about the easy use of the death penalty to a large number of people, particularly in those countries where exist serious acts of diffused violence and discriminations, intolerance and lack guarantees of law. The use of the capital punishment in so many countries which relate to suppression of religious freedom is a real and serious violation of the principle human right: the right to life.

We have appreciated very much the statement of the Justice Minister of Ukraine Mr. Serhij Holovaty in which he reported the decision of Ukraine to stop the application of the death penalty and his appeal for a general moratoria on executions. On this point we called again, as we did in 1994 , for a resolution on the next United Nations General Assembly for a moratoria on the application of the capital punishment. In 1994 the resolution was defeated by only 6 votes.

We called the governments of the abolitionist countries to present and sponsor for a resolution which would stop the barbarian use of the death penalty in the name of the life of right and the right to life.

Mr. Chairperson, The TRP is also specially concerned -as reported- on persecutions of Muslims in Kosovo, in Bosnia-Hercegovina and Yugoslavia; of Christians in Sudan, Indonesia, China and Pakistan; of Buddhists in Burma and Vietnam; of Bahais in Iran...and so on. We really think that it is necessary to give a special priority to the protection of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion in the work of the United Nations and its programmes.

Our non-violent transnational organization would like to underline with a special attention the situation of religious freedom in Tibet where most elementary rights are continuously violated in the last forty years.

The TRP is of the opinion that countries who have ratified United Nations Conventions must ensure that the conventions are fully implemented. On this point, we notice that too many countries implement these Conventions only in an abstract way or theory. It is also serious that such countries repeatedly fail to submit their reports in due time if at all. These issues should be given serious attention by competent UN bodies, like the Commission on Human Rights.

In 1991, the Sub Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities passed Resolution 1991/10 (E/CN.Sub.2/1991/L.19), noting its concern about continued reports of violations of Tibetans fundamental rights. By the end of 1994, based on cases documented by Amnesty International, there were at least 628 Tibetans in jail because of their political beliefs, including 182 women and 45 children. This is a six-fold increase over the number of political prisoners reported in 1991. Monks and nuns accounted more than 70 % of those arrested.

A Tibetan nun, Phuntsok Nyidron,is currently the longest serving female political prisoner in Tibet. Just for peacefully demonstrating her opinion against the Chinese occupation of Tibet for singing songs calling for Tibet's independence at Drapchi prison.

In 1994, China formally outlawed even the display of photographs of the Dalai Lama. We are now concerned about the new form of attacks on the personality of the Dalai Lama as launched by the Chinese authorities in recent years.

In 1995, the Chinese authorities have once again acted against the practice of Tibetan Buddhism, undertaking massive measures to suppress religious freedom in Tibet. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the new Panchen Lama who was recognized by the Dalai Lama on 14 May 1995 is one clear example. On 13 July 1995, the TRP supported a resolution adopted by the European Parliament which expressed grave concerns about the disappearance of the 6-year old Panchen Lama.

What the Chinese authorities are committing is a direct interference in a religious matter over which the Dalai Lama has prerogative authority thus making the whole issue a political one. We recognize the new Panchen Lama as the world's youngest political prisoner today.

Mr. Chairperson, unless the international community truly practices the religious principles as laid down by our great religious beliefs, we cannot really foresee an end to human rights violations, particularly freedom of religion. We, are, therefore, shocked that the Chinese authorities choose to define religion as "opium" at one stage and then claim to have "religious authority" to recognize the second-highest spiritual leader of the Tibetan people.

To conclude, TRP appeals to the Commission to fully support the work of the Special Rapporteur to fulfill his mandate and requests governments to invite him to visit their countries to study the situation of religious freedom.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.

(Delivered by Mr.Marino Busdachin)