Published by: World Tibet Network News,Thursday, Mar 14, 1996

From: unponl@antenna.nl (Michael v.Walt v.Praag)

Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization

Press Release

For immediate release

The Hague, March 14, 1996

THE HAGUE/ GENEVA, 13 March: According to information leaked from diplomatic sources in several European capitals, some members of the European Union are trying to "withdraw" from their commitment to introduce a resolution against China at the 52nd session of the UN Commission on Human Rights scheduled to begin in Geneva on 18 March. The draft resolution that had been agreed upon criticized China's behaviour on human rights in China and in Tibet. "There are conflicting views amongst the European Union members on this move," said one senior diplomat who requested not to be named. "The withdrawal of this resolution would not help European morals, particularly in its international call on human rights protection," the diplomat added. Other sources believe that the move comes after EU powers, such as France and Italy, were reportedly able to negotiate major trade contracts with China at the recent Bangkok Summit.

Reacting to this unprecedented move, Kasur Lodi G. Gyari, head of the Tibetan delegation to the UN Commission on Human Rights said: "We are deeply disappointed with this move by governments which, on other issues take a principled stand on human rights. Now human rights are being bargained away or trade-benefits."

The European Union with the support of many countries, including the United States and Japan, has repeatedly moved resolutions against China at the UN Commission between 1992 and 1995. Last year the Commission rejected China's procedural move to block the first substantive debate and voting. When the Commission, for the first time, voted on the substance of a mildly-worded resolution, China escaped censure by a narrow margin of one vote. On the situation in Tibet, the resolution expressed concern Rat inadequate protection of the distinct cultural, religious, ethnic and linguistic identity of Tibetans."

"If Europeans do not sponsor a resolution this time, when it is clear that the human rights situation in Tibet and in China, and with respect to the Uighurs and other non-Chinese peoples, has been getting worse, it will send a very wrong signal," UNPO General Secretary, Dr. Michael van Walt van Praag stated today.

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) views any move by the European Union to retreat from its annual endeavour on the China resolution at this year's Commission with much concern. Such a move will only encourage China to continue its systematic repression in Tibet, where more than 250 Tibetans, including the six year old Panchen Lama, were arbitrarily detained for political reasons in 1995. "We can only urge leaders of the European Union to seriously consider the aspirations of the six million Tibetan people who live under totalitarian occupation. China must be made accountable for its human rights abuses," said Mrs. Chungdak Koren, Representative of H.H. the Dalai Lama for UN Affairs in Geneva.

Tibet is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization. UNPO is an organization of nations and peoples that are not adequately represented in international fora, such as the United Nations.

For more information please contact Kathy Voyles, Media and Information Centre, or Eliane Prov Kluit, Asia Desk, at UNPO, The Hague, The Netherlands. tel.: +31-70-3603318, fax: +31-70-3603346, Email: unponl@antenna.nl.