DOCUMENT SUBMITTED BY MR. GIANFRANCO DELL'ALBA (I - ARE)
Resolutions on Tibet of the European Parliament
Situation in Tibet
Joint resolution replacing Docs. B2-1008, 1013, 1027, 1053 and 1070/87
Resolution on the situation in Tibet
The European Parliament,
A. gravely concerned by the recent disturbances in Lhasa which are reported to have caused many deaths,
B. recalling that both during the early days of the Chinese occupation in the 1950s and during the Cultural Revolution the Tibetan religion and culture were brutally repressed,
C. noting the policy of tolerance which has been shown in recent times by the Chinese authorities towards the Tibetan Buddhist religion by the reconstruction of certain monasteries, as well as the growing participation of Tibetans in the administration of the Autonomous Region,
D. having regard to the new legal provisions of 1984 concerning the status of autonomous regions in China,
E. calling attention to the Dalai Lama's five-point programme on the status of Tibet and the relations between the Chinese and Tibetan people,
1. Urges the Chinese Government to respect the rights of the Tibetans to religious freedom and cultural autonomy,
2. Considers that the Dalai Lama's five-point programme could well form the basis of a settlement,
3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the Government of the People's Republic of China.
Tibet
Joint resolution replacing Docs. B2-1508, 1511, 1524 and 1540/88
Resolution on human rights in Tibet
The European Parliament,
A. having regard to recent demonstrations in Tibet at which the Chinese security forces opened fire and a number of people were killed and many others injured,
B. having regard to the fact that on 7 March 1989 China declared martial law in Tibet, so that all demonstrations, petitions and public meetings have been outlawed,
C. noting further that all foreigners and journalists have been expelled,
D. believing that the conflict in Tibet should not be resolved by force,
E. noting the Chinese Government's change of policy in relation to Tibet in the 1980s by which they tolerate Buddhism, and have re-opened some monasteries, but religious teaching and the study of Buddhist philosophy is severely restricted,
1. Strongly condemns the violent repressive measures, and in particular the use of arms, which have taken place in the Tibetan capital, and calls for the lifting of martial law;
2. Deplores the loss of life resulting from these disturbances and expresses its deepest sympathy with the families affected;
3. Urges the Government of the People's Republic of China to now hold the postponed discussions on the future of Tibet with the Dalai Lama;
4. Calls for a resumption of talks between all parties concerned and calls on the Chinese Government to resume a conciliatory policy towards Tibet which will respect the autonomous status of this region within the framework of Chinese constitutional practice;
5. Requests European Political Cooperation and the Commission to use their good offices with the parties concerned to promote a just solution to the problems of Tibet;
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, European Political Cooperation, the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Dalai Lama.
Human rights
B3-551/90
Resolution on the sentence of death passed in Tibet on Lobsang Tensing, a 22 year old student
The European Parliament,
A. having regard to the information disseminated by the Tibetan Youth Congress in Dharamsala and the Tibetan office in Zurich, and confirmed by Amnesty International, according to which the day is rapidly approaching when, after the usual two-year suspension, the death sentence will probably be carried out on the 22 year old student Lobsang Tensing, sentenced in March 1988 for allegedly having killed a Chinese policeman,
B. having regard to the normal practice of the Chinese authorities of holding public executions in order to intimidate the Tibetan population on the anniversary of 10 March, the date on which the Tibetans commemorate the Chinese invasion in 1950,
C. having regard to the continued existence of the death sentence in Chinese law,
D. having regard to the continued existence in Lhasa of the martial law decreed on 8 March 1989,
E. having regard to its earlier resolutions on Tibet,
1. Resolutely condemns capital punishment and demands its removal from the laws of China and any other country where it still exists;
2. Condemns the use of intimidating practices by China vis-à-vis the Tibetans who are asking for liberty for their people;
3. Considers that the announcement of the possible execution of Lobsang Tensing makes the Political Affairs Committee's hearing on the human rights situation in Tibet even more urgent and asks the committee concerned to do its best to eliminate all obstacles to the holding of these hearings so that they can take place by the summer;
4. Asks the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC, the Commission and the Council, each within their respective terms of reference, to ask the Chinese Government to suspend the execution of Lobsang Tensing and to commute capital sentences to imprisonment and to ensure total respect for human rights in China;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Chinese Government, the Tibetan Government in exile, the Commission, the Council and the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC.
Human rights
B3-0132, 0139, 0169 and 0188/92
Resolution on human rights in China and Tibet
The European Parliament,
A. having regard to the most recent report by Amnesty International concerning the continued violations of human rights in China and Tibet and the large number of political detainees still in prison,
B. drawing attention to the increased persecution of those who practise their religious faith: Buddhists, Catholics, Protestants and Moslems,
C. mindful of the problem of overpopulation in China, to which a solution should be sought with full respect for human rights, and therefore shocked by the reports that women are sometimes forced to have abortions,
D. having regard to the declaration by the Council of 17 December 1991 on relations with China to the effect that the Twelve and the Commission would refrain from taking any trade initiatives in cooperation with China,
E. recalling its previous resolutions on violations of human rights in China and its resolution of 22 November 1991 concerning the links between human rights, democracy and development,
1. Calls for the release of all those whose only offence is to practise their religious faith in accordance with Article 36 of the Chinese Constitution of 1982 or who peacefully advocate the establishment of democratic rights;
2. Calls on the Chinese Government to ensure that forced abortions cease immediately and that those responsible are brought to trial;
3. Appeals in particular for the release of: (a) the Catholic Bishop Paul Li Zhenrong who, although sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment in 1957, was incarcerated until 1980 and was rearrested on 20 November 1991; (b) Lobsang Tsondrue, a monk, Terpa Wangdrak, a monk, Terpa Phulchung, an accountant, Bhu Penpa, an artist, all Tibetans, who are detained in harsh conditions for long terms of imprisonment for such offences as possessing a Tibetan flag, possessing posters calling for Tibetan independence or for taking part in peaceful demonstrations; and Tamdin Sithar, a 45-year-old Tibetan, who was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment in 1984 by the Chinese authorities, apparently because he had in his possession a statement by the Dalai Lama;
4. Expresses its concern at the conditions in which prisoners are held, in particular, the medical treatment available, which seems often to be almost non-existent;
5. Calls on all the Member States to adhere strictly to the position adopted by the Council on 17 December 1991;
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, Council, European Political Cooperation and to the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Dalai Lama.
Situation in Tibet
A3-0369/92
Resolution on the situation in Tibet
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the motions for resolutions:
(a) by Mrs Muscardini and others on human rights and EEC economic activity in China (B3-0460/90)
(b) by Mrs Aglietta and Mr Langer on the situation in Tibet (B3-1375/90)
(c) by Mr Coates and others on the situation in Tibet (B3-1557/90),
- having regard to its resolutions of 15 October 1987, 16 March 1989, 15 March 1990 and 13 February 1992
- expressing its grave concern at the violations of fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people, as referred to in United Nations Resolutions 1353 (XIV), 1723 (XVI) and 2079 (XX),
- expressing its concern, mindful of Resolution 1991/10 of 23 August 1991 of the United Nations Sub-commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, at violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms that threaten the distinct cultural, religious and national identity of the Tibetan people,
- having regard to the UN Secretary-General's note on 'The situation in Tibet' (E/CN.41992/37) presented to the 48th Session of the Commission on Human Rights,
- having regard to draft resolution L.49 of 27 February 1992 on 'The situation in Tibet' introduced by Portugal on behalf of the Member States and co-sponsored by Austria, Costa Rica, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Panama and Switzerland, expressing concern at the human rights violations and calling upon the Government of China to 'ensure the full observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Tibetans',
- having regard to the information acquired during the hearing on human rights in Tibet held by the European Parliament on 24 and 25 April 1990,
- having regard to the experience of the European Parliament's delegation during its stay in Lhasa from 20 to 23 September 1991 and especially to the fact that the freedom of movement of the individual members of the delegation was restricted and that they were prevented from obtaining information outside the official programme for the visit, discussions with individual members of the Tibetan population and religious dignitaries being consistently prevented by the presence of security forces in large numbers,
- having regard to the report of the chairman of the Delegation for Relations with the People's Republic of China of 4 November 1991 on the delegation's visit to the People's Republic of China from 20 to 23 September 1991,
- having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security (A3-0369/92),
A. recognizing that the Tibetans are a people according to international law,
B. noting that self-determination, a fundamental principle enshrined in Articles 1(2) and 55 of the United Nations Charter, is affirmed as a right of peoples in Article 1 of the United Nations Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights:
C. 'All peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of this right, they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.'
D. recalling, however, that in his determination to secure the human rights of Tibetans by peaceful means, the Dalai Lama has made clear that he does not insist that Tibet should become totally independent;
E. noting with deep anxiety the continued denial of the Tibetan people's right to self-determination, in spite of the fact that according to the relevant international law, a broad range of possibilities are available to pave the way for the attainment of this right,
F. E. considering insufficient the legal autonomy currently granted to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) by the Chinese Government, and regretting that even this limited autonomy exists only in law but not in fact and that the economy is managed and local natural resources are exploited with insufficient regard to the needs and priorities of the Tibetan people,
G. noting with concern that traditional Tibet has been arbitrarily divided into five parts and that a large part of the former territory and population of Tibet has been incorporated into the adjacent provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai,
H. deploring the continued violation of the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the Tibetans, including both civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights,
I. particularly concerned by the encouragement given to the resettlement of Chinese in Tibet, which marginalizes the Tibetan culture and threatens the identity of the Tibetans as a distinctive people and their ability to participate effectively in any political process both currently and if Tibet were to become democratic in the future,
J. distressed by the continued violations by China of its international obligations, as evidenced by the prevalence of mass executions, political detention and torture,
K. extremely concerned by the continued military occupation of Tibet by Chinese troops and armed police and the reported deployment of Chinese nuclear missiles, which pose a threat to peace and stability in this region and, in addition, divert urgently needed resources from regional, national and local development projects,
L. deploring the destruction wrought on the natural environment of Tibet by a mistaken agricultural policy, a politically motivated immigration policy and the ruthless exploitation of the country's natural resources, which contravenes the UN Declaration of the Rights of Peoples to Sovereignty over Natural Resources and has resulted in major deforestation around the upper reaches of Asia's greatest rivers, with catastrophic implications for the future of the region,
M. particularly concerned by the attacks on Tibetan culture, such as discrimination against the Tibetan language in government and in the education system, and the strict supervision of monasteries and religious observance, in open disregard of long-standing Tibetan traditions and customs despite nominal autonomy,
N. noting with concern the discriminatory nature of the health and education system in Tibet, which places in jeopardy the future of an entire people,
O. noting that most of the Tibetan population lives outside the TAR: while the TAR has 2.2 million inhabitants according to official figures of the Chinese authorities, a further 2.5 - 4 million Tibetans live outside the TAR in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures of Hainan, Haibei, Huanghan, Gannan, Golok, Yushu, Nhapa (Aba), Garze and Dechen and in the 'Mongolian, Tibetan, Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of Haixi'; the fate of these people must also be taken into account as the Tibetan people strive to gain independence,
P. Convinced that the traditional wisdom and culture of the Tibetan nation and its spiritual leadership will find a gentle and peaceful way to assert and attain their rights,
1. Condemns the human rights violations inflicted on the Tibetan people and calls on the People's Republic of China to respect human rights as defined in international law;
2. Demands the release of all political prisoners and a halt to torture and intimidation in Tibet, and urges the Chinese Government to invite a neutral and impartial institution such as the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit all detention facilities and prisoners;
3. Calls for an immediate halt to the environmental degradation and economic exploitation perpetrated by the Chinese in Tibet, and insists that the management of natural resources and the economy be entrusted to local Tibetan authorities;
4. Appeals for an end to discrimination against Tibetans in health and education services, further efforts to improve the health and education levels of the Tibetan population and genuine improvement of the health and education facilities available to the Tibetan population;
5. Calls for the immediate reversal of policies that encourage the mass transfer of Chinese to Tibet in violation of the Tibetan people's right to self-determination which implies the right for the Tibetan people to decide democratically on levels and patterns of immigration and the promotion of Tibetan as the language of government and education in Tibet;
6. Recommends that, in the highly sensitive area of birth control policy, a sensible, culturally and socially acceptable settlement be found, taking into account the convictions of the Tibetan population and the country's special situation;
7. Advocates the termination of all measures restricting the Tibetan's freedom of movement within the TAR even after the lifting of martial law (e.g. the occasional blockading of individual cities or areas); notes in particular that the freedom of monks to travel is restricted, the aim obviously being to prevent contacts between monasteries;
8.Welcomes the recent visits to Tibet permitted for Australian, Swiss, Austrian and other delegations, but regrets the selective and conditional nature of access to Tibet, particularly the refusal of permission to the rapporteur of the European Parliament's Political Affairs Committee to visit Tibet in his official capacity; deplores interference in the composition of delegations and the limits imposed on the freedom of movement of delegation members and on what foreign delegation members may observe while in Tibet; condemns in particular the persecution of Tibetans who talk to delegation members without permission or supply information to foreign delegation members which deviates from that prescribed by the Chinese authorities;
9. Abhors the censorship of communications and the limitations imposed on journalists, including denial of entry and expulsion, and the confiscation of documents and films from Western travellers and journalists;
10. Declares its solidarity with the numerous Tibetans serving long prison sentences for expressing or publishing their political opinions;
11. Welcomes the recent openness of the Chinese Government in supplying information about the numbers of political prisoners (those held for 'counterrevolutionary offences') in Drapchi prison and hopes figures will be published for other categories of prisoners, e.g. prisoners being 'held for investigation' in Public Security Bureau detention and interrogation camps such as Gutsa and New Seitu and also political prisoners in 'reform and re-education through labour' camps at Sangyip and Powo Tramu and other unacknowledged prison camps;
12. Demands the full involvement of Tibetans, with international observation, in the reconstruction of all culturally sensitive sites, particularly the Potala palace, which should be made a UNESCO 'World Heritage Site';
13. Regrets that the various constructive initiatives of the Dalai Lama's government in exile have not been acknowledged as a basis for serious negotiations; considers that a willingness to reconsider the Dalai Lama's five-point plan of 1987 might offer a renewed prospect of a peaceful and acceptable solution of the Tibetan question, and appeals to the Chinese Government to reconsider its refusal of the Dalai Lama's October 1991 request to visit Tibet and in a positive spirit to invite him to visit Tibet in 1993;
14. Urges the resumption of negotiations between the Tibetan government in exile and the Chinese authorities;
15. Urges that genuine self-determination be considered in these negotiations and, as a first step and sign of goodwill, recommends the incorporation of all Tibetan territories into a single administrative and political unit;
16. Is aware that Tibet will not find its way to democracy by its own efforts and that, on the termination of its one-sided dependence on the People's Republic of China, economic support measures will be needed to enable the country to use its natural resources independently and to bring its economic and political isolation to an end;
17. Calls upon the Commission to make the granting of assistance to China conditional on the observance of basic human rights and freedoms, particularly in Tibet, and to report on the situation in Tibet annually;
18. Urges the Commission to ensure in its relations with China that an appropriate percentage of funds, projects and scholarships is allocated to Tibet,
19. Insists that EEC-funded or supported projects in Tibet must genuinely serve the interests of the Tibetan people and involve a majority of Tibetans at all levels and that, where this cannot be achieved immediately, provision must be made for Tibetans to be trained in order to replace the Chinese managers, experts and technicians sent to the country;
20. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the Government of the People's Republic of China, the Dalai Lama and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Human rights
B3-0858, 0862, 0872, 0903 and 0929/93
Resolution on repression in Tibet and the exclusion of the Dalai Lama from the World Conference on Human Rights
The European Parliament,
A. concerned about the recent and numerous arrests in Tibet, both subsequent to demonstrations in the last few weeks, and prior to the visit by the delegation of EC Ambassadors on 16 May 1993 in an apparent attempt to prevent contact between political dissidents and the EC delegation,
B. having regard to the statement of concern issued by EPC on 1 June following the visit of the EC diplomats to Tibet from 16 to 23 May,
C. shocked by the exclusion of the Dalai Lama from addressing the UN World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, in spite of the protests by the Austrian Government which had invited him,
D. recalling that the Dalai Lama has made it clear that he is calling for respect for the human rights and cultural autonomy of the Tibetans and not for the political independence of Tibet,
E. recalling its previous resolutions on the abuse of human rights in Tibet,
1. Deplores the brutal suppression of the demonstrations and the harsh treatment of political prisoners in Tibet;
2. Calls for the immediate release of and a guarantee of physical safety for all those arrested if not charged with internationally recognizable criminal offences, including Gendun Rinchen, Lobsang Yonten and Damchoe Pemo, who are being held incommunicado;
3. Calls on the Chinese Government to allow the presence of foreign observers at the trials of any of those arrested who are brought to trial;
4. Calls on the EC Ambassadors to China to draw up an in-depth report on their visit to Tibet and to forward this report to the European Parliament;
5. Asks EPC to use its good offices to exert pressure on the Chinese Government to lift the ban on foreign journalists travelling to Tibet and to abolish the 1987 law forbidding foreigners to watch or take photographs of demonstrations;
6. Calls for independent investigations into the brutal suppression of the demonstrations and for free access for international humanitarian agencies such as Amnesty International and suggests that the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights and its Delegation for relations with the PRC explore the possibility of sending a European Parliament human rights mission to investigate the human rights situation in Tibet, accompanied by independent experts and their own Tibetan interpreters;
7. Deeply regrets that the Dalai Lama's planned address to the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna was cancelled as a result of Chinese pressure;
8. Recalls the Chinese interest in developing its trade relations with the EC and its political relations with the Member States, and urges the Commission to make all future economic and commercial agreements with the People's Republic of China conditional upon respect for human rights in China and in the Tibetan region;
9. Calls for an economic development policy which benefits Tibetans rather than stimulating the influx of Chinese into Tibet;
10. Calls for a resumption of negotiations between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese authorities, and a democratic, genuinely autonomous solution for Tibet;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, Council and European Political Cooperation, to the governments and parliaments of the Member States, Austria and the People's Republic of China, and the Secretary-General of the UN and the Dalai Lama.
Human rights
B3-1257 and 1307/93
Resolution on the detention of the Tibetans Gendun Rinchen, Loosang Yontam and Damchoe Pemo and other violations of human rights in Tibet
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the statement of concern issued by EPC on 1 June 1993,
- recalling its earlier resolutions and in particular that of 24 June 1993, on repression in Tibet and the exclusion of the Dalai Lama from the World Conference on Human Rights,
- having regard to the statement of concern of Amnesty International,
- aware of the deplorable violation of human rights in Tibet and the huge number of political prisoners, including 107 apparently arrested during the period April to July 1993 for taking part in demonstrations for independence or calling for the release of dissidents,
- recalling the arrest of Gendun Rinchen and other Tibetan human rights activists before the arrival of a delegation of EC Ambassadors in Tibet last May, in an apparent attempt by the Chinese authorities to prevent contacts with the EC delegation and in particular to prevent them receiving information about political prisoners,
- concerned about the fact that Gendun Rinchen since being arrested is being detained incommunicado and is accused of "stealing state secrets", a charge which can carry the death sentence,
- gravely concerned by the reports of the arrest and maltreatment by the police of Damchoe Pemo who, when 20 weeks pregnant, miscarried, having been forced to remain standing for at least 12 hours and having been beaten with electric batons,
- gravely concerned by the reports that the village of Kymishi in Gongkar County in the Lhoka Prefecture has been surrounded by hundreds of Chinese soldiers who have set up machine gun posts and that 35 people in the village have been arrested,
- convinced that the relations between the EC and China should not be determined only by economic interests, but should be dependent on respect for human rights and democracy,
1. Calls on the Chinese authorities to release forthwith all those detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression and to ensure that Tibetan detainees are protected from torture and ill treatment and are granted access to relatives and to a lawyer of their choice;
2. Supports the courageous activity of Gendun Rinchen and his combatants in support of the respect of human rights and in particular the situation of the political prisoners in Tibet;
3. Recalls its demand to the Commission to make all future economic and commercial agreements with the People's Republic of China dependent upon respect for human rights in China and in the Tibetan region;
4. Takes the view that the Olympic Games should not be held in Peking in the year 2000 unless significant progress is made in ensuring respect for human rights by the Chinese regime;
5. Instructs its delegation to China to insist on discussing the question of the violation of human rights, especially in Tibet, during its forthcoming visit to the People's Republic;
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, EPC and to the Governments of the People's Republic of China and of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Human rights
B4-0275/94
Resolution on the sentence of up to 15 years' imprisonment pronounced against five Tibetans in China for 'counter-revolutionary activities'
The European Parliament,
A. deeply concerned about the continuing violation of human rights in the People's Republic of China and in Tibet and, in particular, the continuing illegal detention of political prisoners, some of them for several years,
B. disturbed by the sentencing announced on 26 July 1994 by a court in Pakshoe county of five Tibetans in eastern Tibet to 12 to 15 years' imprisonment for 'counter-revolutionary sabotage' and 'counter-revolutionary propaganda and incitement',
C. appalled that the ringleaders, Jigme Dorje, Lobsang Dargye and Pema Tsering were sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, followed by five years' deprivation of their political rights and that Lobsang Palden and Jampa Tashi were each sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment with four years' deprivation of political rights,
D. concerned that these sentences are totally disproportionate to the crime that these men allegedly committed - i.e. the smashing of a government building nameplate and the pasting up of pro-independence slogans in March 1994,
E. conscious of the fact that trial procedures in Tibet, as well as in China, fall far short of international standards for fairness, especially for political prisoners,
1. Urges the Chinese authorities to review the heavy sentences imposed upon the five men;
2. Asks them to make public full details of the trials;
3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights and the Premier of the People's Republic of China.
Human rights
B4-0768 and 0826/95
Resolution on Tibet
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its resolutions on Tibet of 15 October 1987 (1), 16 March 1989 (2), 15 March 1990 (3), 12 September 1991 (4), 13 February 1992 (5), 15 December 1992 (6), 25 June 1993 (7) and 17 September 1993 (8),
- having regard to the Commission notice of 5 March 1993 concerning an open and structured dialogue between the Commission and special interest groups
- promoting greater transparency in dealings with the Commission(9) ,
A. having regard to the proposal for support by the European Union for the Panam Integrated Rural Development project in Tibet,
B. having regard to the views expressed by the Commission during its meeting with the Dalai Lama in June 1994 that the best solution to the situation in Tibet is through a constructive dialogue between the Tibetan Government-in- Exile and the Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC),
C. noting and supporting previous resolutions calling for economic aid which genuinely serves the interests of the Tibetan people,
D. noting the objective of the Panam Rural Integrated Project of increasing the food surplus produced by the region for distribution to other parts of Tibet, in particular those with a non-Tibetan population,
E. particularly concerned by encouragement given to the settlement of Chinese in Tibet which marginalizes Tibetan culture and threatens the identity of the Tibetans as a distinct people and their ability to participate effectively in any political process,
F. concerned also that during its assessment of the Panam Project the Commission did not adequately consult either the local population or special interest groups with extensive expertise of development work in Tibet as demanded by the Commission's own policy of open and structured dialogue with such special interest groups,
G. recognizing that Tibetans are a people under international law and that in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the UN Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights they have a right to self-determination,
H. noting with increasing concern the continued violations of the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people, and the major crackdown by the PRC on religious expression and on supporters of Tibetan independence,
I. shocked at the news of the recent death of Gyaltsen Kelsang, the Buddhist nun recently released after one and a half year's detention, as a result of ill-treatment during imprisonment, and concerned for the health of others suffering injury or illness as a result of ill-treatment whilst in custody,
J. appalled by the fact that she was the tenth political prisoner since 1987 to die shortly after leaving prison and the fourth woman to die within four years;
K. noting the hosting of the forthcoming United Nations Fourth World Conference for Women by the PRC and the reports of obstacles being placed in the way of legitimate activity at the conference by non-governmental organizations and specifically the barring of Tibetan and Taiwanese women from the conference and the complementary NGO Forum,
L. noting reports of coercive contraceptive methods used against Chinese and Tibetan women to enforce government policy limiting the number of children in a family,
1. Calls on the Commission to recognize that the Panam Project has been proposed by the PRC as part of a scheme to feed the new Chinese settlers in Tibet by local means and that it is therefore against the interests of the Tibetan people because it encourages the settlement of Chinese citizens and forces the economic integration of Tibet into China;
2. Calls on the Commission to redeploy resources from the Panam Project to aid which will better serve the Tibetan people;
3. Urges the Commission to regard its own findings of difficulty in consulting the population of Panam county as further evidence of the problems of managing projects in Tibet and to accept the conclusion that development aid must be channelled into small local projects;
4. Urges the Commission to support non-governmental organizations engaged in these types of local projects;
5. Calls on the Commission to ensure in future that any proposals relating to Tibet are the subject of a full and open consultation process conducted with a view to providing the transparency necessary to allow special interest groups to participate in this process;
6. Calls on the Commission to make the granting of aid to China conditional on respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms, particularly in Tibet;
7. Urges the PRC to enter into the postponed discussions on the future of Tibet with the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile;
8. Strongly urges the Foreign Ministers of the Member States and the Commission to call for a substantive dialogue without preconditions to take place between the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and the Chinese Government in order to find a constructive solution to the situation in Tibet;
9. Calls on the PRC authorities to release forthwith all persons detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression in China andd Tibet and to ensure that all detainees are protected from torture and ill- treatment, are granted access to relatives and a lawyer of their choice, and are provided with full health care for injury or illness resulting from detention;
10. Appeals to the Government of the PRC to acknowledge its responsibility to ensure that the Fourth World Conference for Women allows proper facilities for the NGO Forum; women from Tibet, Taiwan, Western Sahara and elsewhere should be given full access;
11. Calls on the PRC to abandon policy and legislation which encourages the authorities to force women to use birth control methods, including abortion and sterilization, by economic or other means;
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the government of the People's Republic of China, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Dalai Lama.
Tibet B4-0963, 0979, 0983, 1003, 1007 and 1011/95Resolution on the situation in Tibet and the disappearance of the six-year old Panchen LamaThe European Parliament,- recalling its earlier resolutions on the occupation of Tibet and the repression of its people by the Chinese authorities,
A. gravely concerned at reports of the abduction of a six-year old Tibetan boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, and his parents, by the Chinese authorities shortly after he had been recognized by the Dalai Lama as the latest reincarnation of Tibet's second most important spiritual leader, the Panchen Lama, who died in 1989,
B. considering that, throughout its history, Tibet succeeded in maintaining a national, cultural and religious identity distinct from China until this began to be eroded following the Chinese invasion,
C. reaffirming the illegal nature of the invasion and occupation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China; whereas, before the invasion by China in 1950, Tibet was recognized de facto by many countries and whereas it is an occupied territory according to the principles laid down by international law and the resolutions of the United Nations,
D. condemning the attempt made by the Chinese authorities to destroy the Tibetan identity inter alia by a policy of large-scale settlement of ethnic Chinese in Tibet, forced sterilization of women, abortions, political, religious and cultural persecution and the Sinification of the Tibetan administration,
1. Calls on the Chinese authorities to ensure that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family will be immediately released and allowed to return to their village;
2. Calls on the Chinese Government to put an end to its violations of human rights, ensure respect for the fundamental rights of the peoples and individuals in Tibet and put an immediate end to officially-encouraged population transfers of ethnic Chinese to Tibet;
3. Invites the Commission and the Council to intervene with the Chinese authorities to stress how the continued oppression of the Tibetan people damages relations between the European Union and the People's Republic of China;
4. Calls on the institutions of the European Union on the one hand to support any move to settle the Sino-Tibetan problem by means of a political dialogue and, on the other, on the Chinese Government and the Tibetan Government-in- exile to begin negotiations along those lines, and, in this context, expresses its support for the efforts of the Dalai Lama to restore by peaceful means the cultural and religious freedom of the Tibetan people, as well as their political autonomy;
5. Expresses its support for the Tibetan people and hopes to establish permanent contacts with the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile;
6. Instructs its president to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the government of China, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Parliament-in-exile of Tibet and the UN Secretary-General.
Human rights
B4-1499, 1516, 1522, 1544 and 1556/95
Resolution on the selection of the Panchen Lama and religious freedom in Tibet
The European Parliament,
A. deploring generally the Chinese authorities' relentless persecution of Tibetan Buddhist monks,
B. noting that the Government of the People's Republic of China has announced the selection of a new Panchen Lama, attempting to overrule the Dalai Lama's choice of five months ago, thereby disregarding the religious traditions of the Tibetan people and politicizing an issue that has always been a strictly religious matter throughout the history of Tibet,
C. stressing that this action by the Chinese is liable to create serious unrest in Tibetan society,
D. recalling that on 14 May 1995 the Dalai Lama, freely exercising the powers he enjoys by virtue of his spiritual role, had already recognized Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as being the new reincarnation of the Panchen Lama,
E. whereas Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents, as well as the monk who identified him as the Panchen Lama, have not been seen in public since July 1995,
F. expressing its dismay that the actions of the Chinese authorities represent a further erosion of the principle of freedom of religion,
G. having regard to the riots which followed the government's decision and the ruthlessness with which they were quelled,
The European Parliament,
1. Condemns China's intervention in the nomination of the candidate for the title of Panchen Lama, which is strictly a religious matter, as well as the forced appointment of the candidate imposed by the Chinese authorities;
2. Urges the Chinese authorities to respect the wishes of the Tibetan people by accepting the Panchen Lama as recognized by the Dalai Lama;
3. Requests the Government of the People's Republic of China immediately to allow Union diplomats to meet Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents, as well as the monk mentioned above, in order to ensure that they are safe;
4. Calls on the Chinese authorities to undertake not to pressure or intimidate Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family in any way, particularly as regards his freedom to perform his spiritual role as the Panchen Lama and thus his free access to the education necessary for this role;
5. Calls on the Chinese authorities to accord full freedom of movement and worship to Tibetan monks, and to respect the Tashi Lumpo monastery, the historical seat of the Panchen Lama;
6. Calls on the representatives of the Council and the Commission to exert strong diplomatic or other pressure on the Chinese authorities to put an end to their unacceptable treatment of the Tibetan people;
7. Believes that the final decision to proceed with the European Union's Panam project in Tibet should not be taken until such time as the requests in this resolution are met;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the Dalai Lama, the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Tibetan Government in exile.
Human rights
B4-0514, 0520 and 0525/96
Resolution on the resolution on China and Tibet submitted to the United Nations Commission
on Human Rights and the position of the EU countries
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on the human rights situation in China and Tibet,
A. having regard to the 52nd session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights,
B. whereas the Vienna Declaration and the United Nations Action Plan reaffirm the requirement that all Member States should promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and respect the undertakings given in international conventions,
C. whereas the human rights situation in the People's Republic of China is still very serious, as highlighted in the reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch Asia; whereas the situation in occupied Tibet is growing worse,
D. welcoming the decision by the European Union to submit a resolution on human rights violations in the People's Republic of China and Tibet,
1. Calls on the Member States of the European Union to use all the diplomatic means available to them, while making a determined effort to gain support from other members of the UN Commission on Human Rights, to ensure that a resolution on the human rights situation in China and Tibet is approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights and that it takes account of previous resolutions adopted by the European Parliament;
2. Calls on the Member States of the Union to work in cooperation with the United States of America in presenting and supporting the resolution;
3. Calls on the Council to inform Parliament and its Committee on Foreign Affairs on the strategy followed and the results obtained by the Union at the UN Commission on Human Rights;
4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the member countries of the UN Commission on Human Rights and the Tibetan Government in exile.
Human rights
B4-0636 and 0649/96
Resolution on human rights in TibetThe European Parliament,
- recalling its earlier resolutions on the situation in Tibet,
A. gravely concerned by reports from Beijing and Lhasa that the Chinese authorities of occupied Tibet have widened a ban on pictures of the Dalai Lama from monasteries and temples to include schools and private homes, whereas pictures of the Dalai Lama in Tibet had been allowed since 1979,
B. deploring that, according to these reports, house-to-house searches are being made to check for possession of photographs of the Dalai Lama,
C. noting the reports of death and serious injury of a number of Tibetans as a result of violent suppression of the resulting protest,
1. Deplores China's increasing policy of repression and intimidation, as well as their continued policy of transferring population, in Tibet;
2. Calls on the Chinese authorities to respect the freedom of religion of the Tibetan people;
3. Urges the Chinese authorities to ensure that all those injured are allowed access to medical treatment without fear of arrest or intimidation;
4. Instructs its Delegation for Relations with China to raise these issues with their counterparts during the upcoming meeting in Beijing in an appropriate manner;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Tibetan Government in Exile.
Tibet
B4-0199, 0220, 0240, 0258 and 0261/97
Resolution on TibetThe European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on Tibet,
A. whereas the Chinese authorities continue their repression in occupied Tibet,
B. whereas His Holiness the Dalai Lama proposes to start negotiations on the future of Tibet between the Chinese Government and the Tibetan Government in exile, notably on autonomy and self-government for the Tibetan people,
C. whereas the three UN General Assembly resolutions passed in 1959, 1961 and 1965 acknowledged Tibet's right to self-determination,
1. Reiterates its condemnation of the continuing human rights violations by the Chinese authorities in Tibet;
2. Supports the Dalai Lama's proposal on negotiations on the future of Tibet and invites the Chinese Government to react in an official and positive way to this proposal;
3. Asks the Council, the Member States and the Commission to do everything possible in the framework of the relations between the Union and the Republic of China and the United Nations in order to bring the two sides together with a view to reaching an agreement which satisfies the legitimate requests of the Tibetan people;
4. Calls on the governments of the Member States to have the question of Tibet's occupation and decolonization placed on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the Government of the People's Republic of China, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Government in exile and the United Nations.
Human rights
B4-0076 and 0097/98
Resolution on the appointment of an EU special representative for Tibet
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on the People's Republic of China and Tibet,
A. whereas it has repeatedly called on the Council and the Commission to draw up a common foreign policy with regard to China and particularly the situation in Tibet,
B. reiterating its concern about the fate of the Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choeky Nyima, and his family,
C. recalling the controversies caused by the EU's first project in Tibet, the Panam Project, which reportedly does not permit NGO access to the region,
D. welcoming the release of the Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng, winner of the Sakharov Prize in 1996,
1. Calls on the Council and Commission to appoint an EU special representative for Tibet responsible for doing everything possible to carry out the Union's demands as regards the civil and political rights situation in Tibet, with a remit to monitor developments there;
2. Calls on the Council and Commission to take the necessary steps to obtain full information about the fate of the Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choeky Nyima, and his family, and to take all possible initiatives to act upon Parliament's repeated requests for the release of the Tibetan Mr Nawang Chophel, as well as Mr Wang Dan and Mr Hada;
3. Welcomes the decision by the Chinese authorities to reopen the human rights dialogue with the European Union and the announcement that China is willing to sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Tibetan Government in exile.
Human rights
B4-0511, 0537 and 0538/98
Resolution on Tibet
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its earlier resolutions on the People's Republic of China and Tibet,
A. whereas six Tibetan activists, Dawa Gyalpo, Dawa Tsering, Karma Sichoe, Palzom, Yndung Tsering and Kunsang, went on hunger strike in New Delhi on the 39th anniversary of the Tibetan insurrection against the Chinese, and, on the 49th day of the strike, the Indian police decided to detain the six pursuant to a law forbidding suicide,
B. deeply shocked by the fact that, when the police intervened, Thunpten Ngodup, an elderly Tibetan who had been looking after the strikers from the start, set fire to himself as a sign of protest and later died in a New Delhi hospital,
C. having regard to the six hunger strikers' calls to the United Nations for: (a) the resumption of talks on Tibet on the basis of the UN resolutions of 1959, 1961 and 1965; (b) the appointment of a special rapporteur to investigate the situation in Tibet and an envoy to promote action aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the Tibetan problem; and (c) China to promote a referendum under UN auspices in order to ascertain the wishes of the Tibetan
D. people;
E. noting that five other Tibetans have embarked on a hunger strike unto death,
F. whereas such actions reflect the desperation felt by the Tibetan people after forty years of Chinese occupation,
G. noting the visit which the troika of EU ambassadors to China made to Tibet between 1 and 10 May 1998, as part of the EU-China dialogue on human rights, with the aim of collecting information on the social, economic and political situation in Tibet,
1. Calls on the Council and Commission, within the scope of their respective powers, to take steps to ensure the appointment of a special UN rapporteur on Tibet;
2. Calls on the Member States to take steps to ensure that the question of Tibet is included without delay on the agenda for the next session of the UN General Assembly;
3. Endorses the request made to the United Nations Secretary-General by 1 300 members of parliament from around the world that he meet the Dalai Lama as a first step in a UN-sponsored process of mediation between the Chinese Government and the Tibetan Government in exile;
4. Calls on the Chinese Government to open political negotiations with the Dalai Lama about the future of Tibet;
5. Deplores the Council's and Commission's failure to take action on Parliament's call for the appointment of an EU special representative for Tibet in its resolution of 15 January 1998(1) , and calls on the Council to make that appointment without further delay;
6. Considers that the steps taken by the European Union to secure the release of the Panchen Lama, an eight-year old Tibetan currently held in a secret place by the authorities of the People's Republic of China, are insufficient;
7. Calls on the Council to report to the European Parliament on the EU troika's visit to Tibet at the earliest opportunity;
8. Asks its Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China to raise the Tibet issue on the occasion of the next delegation visit in June 1998;
9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the United Nations Secretary-General, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Tibetan Government in exile.
Human rights
B4-0289, 0296, 0311, 0323 and 0320/97
Resolution on the human rights situation in Eastern Turkestan (Region of Xinjiang)
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on human rights violations in China,
A. deeply concerned by the increasing instability in eastern Turkestan (Region of Xinjiang),
B. alarmed at the arrests carried out by the Chinese authorities on 20 March 1997 in eastern Turkestan, which is predominantly Islamic, following ethnic unrest,
C. alarmed also by the execution of many Uighurs by the Chinese authorities which triggered riots during which hundreds of other people were arrested,
D. denouncing the use of violence, such as bombs, by whichever side,
E. noting that in Eastern Turkestan (the region of Xinjiang) freedom of religion is severely repressed and that last year over 100 Koranic schools were closed down and 180 Muslim clerics, professors and students arrested,
F. having regard to the concerns expressed by the United Nations Committee regarding racial discrimination against the Uighur people,
G. noting that ever since the massacre in Tiananmen Square in 1989, the EU has traditionally backed resolutions on China in the UN Human Rights Commission, and deploring the lack of a common EU policy on China in Geneva this year,
1. Condemns the policy pursued by the People's Republic of China which is designed to eradicate the culture of the Uighur people and suppress the practice of their Islamic faith, a policy which includes the indiscriminate use of the death penalty, population transfers and population control through a birth policy aimed at changing the ethnic composition of this region;
2. Calls on the Chinese authorities to release forthwith all prisoners who were arrested for allegedly taking part in the riots but have not been charged with any crime corresponding to international standards and to guarantee the right to a public hearing, the right to defence and the right to be represented by a lawyer, as provided for in the modified Chinese Code of Criminal Procedure in force since 1 January 1997;
3. Calls on the Chinese Government to start a political dialogue with all parties involved in the eastern Turkestan (Region of Xinjiang) issue, in order to find a politically negotiated settlement of the various demands of the Uighur people;
4. Urges the Chinese government to allow journalists and human rights' monitors access to Eastern Turkestan (the Xinjiang region);
5. Calls on the Commission and the Council to bring pressure to bear on the authorities of the People's Republic of China to ensure that respect for human rights and fundamental rights is guaranteed both on Chinese territory and in the annexed territories;
6. Deplores the fact that the Council has not yet managed to adopt a common position aimed at ensuring the adoption by the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva of a resolution on the human rights situation in China, Tibet, inner Mongolia and Eastern Turkestan (the Xinjiang region) and calls on the Member States to support the resolution already tabled;
7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government of the People's Republic of China, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, Uighur organizations in both Europe and Kazakhstan and the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the European Union.
Human rights
B4-0750/97
Resolution on the situation in Inner Mongolia and the sentence passed on Mr Hada, founder of the Southern Mongolian Democracy Alliance
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on abuses of human rights in the People's Republic of China and annexed territories,
A. whereas the People's Republic of China has pursued a repressive policy with regard to the population of Inner Mongolia ever since the 1947 occupation, and whereas in the course of 50 years of Chinese rule over 150 000 Mongols have disappeared and 800 000 have been imprisoned,
B. whereas Mr Hada, founder of the Southern Mongolian Democracy Alliance (SMDA) was arrested on a charge of separatism, sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment and deprived of political rights for a period of 4 years,
C. having regard to recent events in Hohhot, capital of Inner Mongolia, which led to the arrest of a large number of SMDA supporters involved in efforts to preserve Mongolia's cultural and linguistic heritage,
D. denouncing the continuing practice of organizing the movement of large numbers of people to Inner Mongolia with a view to transforming the ethnic composition of the region, which has resulted in over 20 million Chinese settling in Inner Mongolia and reduced the native population to an insignificant minority (3.6 million Mongols according to 1992 estimates),
E. denouncing the use by the Chinese authorities of sterilization and forced abortion as methods of controlling population numbers,
F. whereas Buddhist monasteries continue to be destroyed in Inner Mongolia and the Mongol people's cultural, religious and linguistic integrity is continually under attack,
G. whereas, consequently, open and continuous discussions must be conducted between the European Union and the People's Republic of China, with particular reference to the extremely important questions of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,
H. whereas it is the duty of the European Union to intervene, with all the means at its disposal, to oppose any policy that threatens the integrity of populations or sections of it, or that aims to suppress their culture or their aspirations to autonomy,
I. deeply concerned by the growing instability in Tibet and East Turkestan (Xinjiang), which are occupied by the People's Republic of China, and by the potential consequences for neighbouring regions,
1. Condemns the policy of the People's Republic of China, which aims to suppress the culture, religion and language of the population of Inner Mongolia and to stifle the Mongolian people's legitimate aspirations to autonomy;
2. Calls on the government of the People's Republic of China to embark on political dialogue with the Mongol opposition, with a view to reaching a peaceful negotiated settlement of the question;
3. Calls on the Chinese government to release all prisoners convicted of offences which are not recognized as such under the relevant international law and treaties;
4. Calls on the Chinese government to take immediate action to re-open the trial of Mr Hada, the founder of the SMDA, and the other activists arrested, in the presence of international observers;
5. Calls on the Chinese government to allow journalists and international observers free entry to Inner Mongolia;
6. Condemns the Chinese authorities for the discriminatory economic and political treatment applied to the population of the occupied regions of Inner Mongolia, East Turkestan and Tibet, and to other ethnic minorities;
7. Calls on the Commission to include, in the co-operation agreements with China, a clause prohibiting ethnic and political discrimination, and to set up effective bodies to monitor the application of that clause;
8. Calls on the Commission and the Council to bring pressure to bear on the authorities of the People's Republic of China to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental rights, whether on Chinese territory or in Inner Mongolia, Tibet and East Turkestan;
9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the parliaments of the Member States, the government of the People's Republic of China, the representatives of the Mongolian opposition in exile, the representatives of the opposition of East Turkestan in exile and the Tibetan government in exile.
