Published by: World Tibet Network News, Sunday, October 27, 1996

(ADDS foreign ministry comment, background)

BEIJING, Oct 25 (AFP) - China denounced Friday the decision to award jailed dissident Wei Jingsheng the Andrei Sakharov human rights prize, accusing the European parliament of malicious interference in its internal affairs.

"We express great sorrow and indignation at this decision by the European parliament," a foreign ministry spokesman said.

"We also warn the small number of European MPs who maliciously attack China not to go too far along the wrong path," he added.

Wei, who has spent only six months of the last 17 years as a free man and is considered by many as the father of China's democracy movement, was awarded the prize by the parliament on Thursday.

Describing Wei, 46, as a "common criminal" who had been tried in accordance with Chinese laws, the spokesman stressed that Strasbourg's decision was a "gross intereference in China's domestic affairs and the country's judicial sovereignty."

The parliament's award can only serve "to encourage anti-Chinese government activities," he said, adding that the decision had "harmed Sino-European relations and the interests of European people themselves."

Wei was first arrested in 1979 and sentenced to 15 years in jail for counter-revolutionary propaganda and incitement, but released six months early in September 1993 when China was attempting to secure the 2000 Olympics.

Despite a steady stream of protests from Western governments and human rights organisations, Wei was tried again for subversion in December last year and is currently serving a 14-year term in the "Nanpu Salt Factory" -- previously called Hebei Province No.1 Prison.

The Sakharov prize, named after the dissident Soviet nuclear scientist, defends "freedom of thought" and includes a cash award of 15,000 ecus (18,750 dollars).

Previous recipients have included Nelson Mandela and Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi.

Wei has frequently been nominated for -- but never awarded -- the Nobel Peace Prize.

His family expressed delight Friday on hearing of the European parliament's decision.

Relations between Strasbourg and Beijing are already strained as a result of the parliament's decision to allow exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to address deputies this week.