From: tibetsupport@gn.apc.org (Tibet Support Group UK)

[TSG UK has a full copy of the following which is too long for full distribution. The foreward, contents and an excerpt are included here. TSG-UK]

SWB FE/2497 52/I - 30 December 1995

CHINA HUMAN RIGHTS

CHINA PUBLISHES "WHITE PAPER" ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Text of White Paper on human rights

Xinhua news agency Chinese-language version of the "full text" of White Paper entitled "The progress of human rights in China"; notes in square brackets describe differences from the Xinhua English version

Beijing, 27th December: The Progress of Human Rights In China, published by the Information Office of the State Council [Xinhua English version reads "Following is the full text of the white paper entitled 'The progress of human rights in China' published by the Information Office of the State Council here today."] Table of Contents:

Foreword

I. People's Right to Existence and Development

II. Civil and Political Rights

Ill. Judicial Work in Safeguarding Human Rights

IV. The Right to Work of Citizens and the Rights and Interests of Workers

V. The Right of Citizens to Education

VI. Protect the Legitimate Rights and Interests of Women and Children

VII. Guarantee of Rights of Minority Nationalities

VIII. Guarantee of the Rights and Interests of the Disabled

IX. Developing the Study of Human Rights and Popularizing the Knowledge of Human Rights

X. Working Hard to Promote the Healthy Development of International Human Rights Activities [Xinhua English version omits Table of Contents]

Foreword

In November 1991 the Chinese government published "The Status of Human Rights in China", [Xinhua English version uses "white book Human Rights in China" without any quotation marks] which made clear to the international community China's basic position and practice on human rights. In the last four years the cause of human rights in China has seen new progress.

The four years since 1991 marked an important historical period for the overall implementation of the Eighth Five-Year Plan on the national economy and social development, which have advanced by leaps and bounds. The plan to quadruple the 1980 GNP by 2000 was realized ahead of schedule in 1995. The Chinese people's life has improved greatly and they are working hard to achieve a comfortable life. Today political stability, economic development and social progress are characteristics of China's new social order, along with ethnic unity, domestic harmony and a continually rising standard of living, thereby demonstrating the overall improvement in human rights. Practice has proved that it suits China's conditions and the basic interests of all the Chinese people to give priority to the people's right to existence and development and improve the situation of human rights in an all-round way under circumstances of reform, development and stability. This has won worldwide recognition.

In the last four years China has actively safeguarded the aim and principle of promoting human rights and basic freedoms set forth in the United Nations Charter and firmly opposed some countries' hegemonies acts of using a double standard for the human rights of other countries, especially developing countries, and imposing their own pattern on others or interfering in the internal affairs of other countries by using "human rights" as a pretext. China's principled stand on human rights has won support from many countries of the world. China has made effective efforts to maintaining world peace and promoting the healthy development of international human rights.

Though great achievements have been made in the last four years in promoting the development of human rights in China, some Human rights situations are not so satisfactory because of the limitations of history and level of development. It is still a long-term task for the Chinese people and government to safeguard and promote the development of human rights and improve the human rights situation for all the people.

VII. Guarantee of rights and interests of minority nationalities

There are 55 minority nationalities in China. To guarantee the legitimate rights of minority nationalities, China's Constitution and laws stipulate that all nationalities are equal. There are clear stipulations that help is to be extended to minority nationalities. A national autonomous areas for the development of their economy, culture and other undertakings and that the customs and habits of minority nationalities are to be respected in social life. This is the fundamental reason that all nationalities in China have for a long time united closely. lived in harmony and helped one another.

The minority nationalities' right to be represented in the highest organ of state power as well as in local organs of power at various levels has been continuously and specially guaranteed. Deputies to the Eighth National People's Congress include 439, or 14.7 per cent, of minority nationality. This percentage is much higher than the percentage (8.04) of population of minority nationalities in the country's total population. The state pays much attention to training and selecting cadres of minority nationalities to work in governments at various levels. About 10.5 per cent of all cadres at provincial or ministerial level are from minority nationalities and 7.9 per cent of cadres at prefectural or bureau level are from minority nationalities.

China has instituted a system of regional autonomy in minority areas. In order to implement the Law on Regional National Autonomy, since 1991 China has formulated more than 20 regulations on regional national autonomy and some special regulations. This has further guaranteed autonomy in the national autonomous areas. In China the chairman of an autonomous region and the head of an autonomous prefecture or autonomous county are invariably citizens of the nationality that exercises regional autonomy. Other members of the people's government of an autonomous region, autonomous prefecture or autonomous county are also to be made up, as far as conditions permit, by citizens of the nationality that exercises regional autonomy or citizens of other minority nationalities in that area. The law stipulates that autonomous organs can apply for permission from higher state organs to make alterations in or desist from implementing resolutions, decisions, orders and instructions made by higher-level state organs if they ar

e not in accordance with the situation in autonomous areas. The autonomous organs in national autonomous areas guarantee that citizens of all the local nationalities have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages and to maintain or reform their customs and habits, and, according to law, guarantee that citizens of all nationalities enjoy freedom in religious belief.

In recent years the state has continued to pay more attention to guaranteeing the rights and interests of ethnic minority groups living in scattered communities. In November 1993, with the State Council's approval, the State Nationality Affairs Commission promulgated Regulations on Administrative Work of Nationality Townships, and Regulations on Urban Nationality Work. They give detailed provisions on how to guarantee the political, economic and cultural rights and interests of scattered ethnic minority groups.

The state has always implemented a preferential policy for the economic development of areas where people of ethnic minority groups live in compact communities, providing funds, technology and personnel aid. In December 1991 the State Council issued a document requesting governments at all levels to increase input to the autonomous areas and to speed up the aid scheme whereby economically developed areas give aid to minority nationality areas. It required banks at all levels to give appropriate preferential treatment to autonomous areas in terms of loans for projects of investment in fixed assets. More funds and materials allocated for assisting poor areas should be directed to poor minority nationality areas.

Aid provided by the state and developed areas to national autonomous areas has promoted their economic development. The total output value of industry and agriculture of autonomous areas inn 1994 increased by 73.8 per cent over that of 1990, the agricultural output value increasing 28.1 per cent, the industrial output value increasing 109.1 per cent and the mileage of [Xinhua English version omits the words "the mileage of"] railway lines open to traffic increasing 27.5 per cent. The life of ethnic minority groups has improved greatly. In 1990 the average yearly salary for workers and employees in autonomous areas was 2,040 yuan. It was 3,970 yuan in 1994. In 1990 the average yearly income for peasants and herders was 546 yuan. It was 944 yuan in 1994.

Because of its high altitude, poor natural conditions and the dark rule of the feudal serf system for an extended period in the past, Tibet is comparatively backward economically and culturally, so the state has given special care to Tibet's development. In July 1994 the central government decided that the rest of China should help Tibet with 62 construction projects with an estimated investment of 2.38bn yuan. The projects include mainly infrastructure such as water supply, electricity, roads, power, telecommunications, schools and hospitals. The purpose is to lay a good foundation for the full-fledged development of Tibet. More than 40 projects have been completed and handed over for use. Actual investment has risen to over 3bn yuan. Completion of these projects has vigorously promoted economic development in Tibet, improved the production and living conditions of Tibetans and raised their standard of living.

Because of historical and geographic reasons, there is still a big gap between areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups and inland and coastal areas in terms of economic and social development. The Chinese government has made great efforts to narrow the gap and has achieved obvious results. It will continue its efforts to bring about a change for the better in backward minority areas.

The Chinese government has always respected and valued the traditional culture of ethnic minority groups. It has allocated large sums of money for the protection and maintenance of historical relics and sites of ethnic minority groups. Between 1989 and 1994 the government invested 53mn yuan to completely renovate the world-famous Potala Palace in Tibet and finished 111 projects. This is the biggest renovation of the Potala Palace since it was constructed early in the Qing dynasty in the mid- 17th century. In 1991 the government invested more than 30m yuan and provided manpower and material for the renovation of the Kumbum Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist establishment in Qinghai.

The government makes great efforts to nurture and develop the culture and art of minority nationalities. In March 1992 the third China Art Festival was held in Kunming, Yunnan Province, with 56 nationalities participating. In January 1995 a music and dance invitation performance of 56 nationalities was held in Shanghai, promoting the development and prosperity of national music and dance. With government support, a number of cultural and artistic troupes of minority nationalities have visited foreign countries.

The government has always respected and guaranteed minority nationalities' right to use and develop their own spoken and written languages. In the performance of their functions, the autonomous organs in autonomous areas use one or several local languages according to the regulations of autonomy set by the autonomous areas. Broadcasting, television, cinema, books, newspapers and magazines in autonomous areas use one or several local languages. On 19th June 1991, the State Council approved the Circular on the Report Regarding Further Improving Work on the Spoken and Written Languages of Minority Nationalities submitted by the State Nationalities Affairs Commission and referred it to those concerned. The circular demanded strengthening the formulation of laws governing the use of nationality languages, standardizing the languages and information processing of the various nationalities, and promoting translation, publishing, education, news, broadcasting, television, films, the collating of ancient books, acade

mic research, cooperation, and exchanges in nationality languages and the training of personnel.

Since 1991, with the support of the government, the traditional medical sciences and pharmacies of minority nationalities have been enriched and developed. More and more people are now engaged in Tibetan, Mongolian, Uighur, Kazak and Dai medical science and pharmacy - over 6,000 to date. There are over 500 hospitals and folk clinics of nationality medicine.

Since the Chinese government respects and guarantees all the rights and interests of ethnic minority groups are entitled to enjoy under the law and since it pays much attention to and supports the political, economic, and cultural development of autonomous areas, in China's minority areas today the political situation is stable, the economy and culture are developing, and the life of ethnic minority groups is improving every year. All 56 nationalities in China live in harmony, are united and friendly to one another, and support and help one another.

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T I B E T S U P P O R T G R O U P UK

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London N1 2XH

e.mail: tibetsupport@gn.apc.org

Telephone +44 (0)171 359 7573

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- an independent membership organisation campaigning in support of the rights of the Tibetan people to freedom and independence.

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