World Tibet Network News Tuesday, May 19, 1998

BEIJING, May 19 (AFP) - Beijing on Tuesday blasted European Parliament resolutions on Tibet and alleged organ-trafficking in China as "placing a regrettable obstacle" in the way of improving Sino-European relations. An editorial in the official China Daily described the two resolutions adopted last Thursday, as "attacking China. "They "maliciously slander China as trafficking in organs of condemned prisoners and brazenly interfere in China's internal affairs by suggestingthe naming of an EU (European Union) special representative for Tibet and urging the UN to appoint a special rapporteur for Tibet," it said. "The accusation of the sale of human organs is sheer fabrication .it is obvious that this slandering is spread on purpose by some people who bearill feelings towards China," the editorial said.

On the Tibet resolution, it said: "China will not tolerate any action that intends to infringe upon China's sovereignty. "It said there had been significant progress in Sino-EU ties since the end of last year, citing vows of a long-term partnership by Premier Zhu Rongji and EU leaders at a London summit in April. "We hope the EU will cherish the hard-earned improvements in Sino-EU relations and stop making unwise moves that may endanger bilateral ties,"the editorial said.Beijing blasted the US cabinet's decision last year to appoint its ownco-ordinator for Tibet as gross interference in China's internal affairs.Chinese troops seized control of the Himalayan region in 1951, and its traditional theocratic ruler, the Dalai Lama, fled into exile eight years later following a failed anti-Chinese uprising. While every country in the world formally recognises Beijing's sovereignty over the region, the Dalai Lama's campaign for Tibetan autonomy has won international sympathy. The spiritual leader was awarded the Nob

el Prize for Peace in 1989. The Chinese government has repeatedly denied charges that officials in the country systematically harvest organs of executed convicts for profit,saying such practices are specifically prohibited by Chinese law. China carries out more death penalties than any other country. According tofigures from Amnesty International, it executed an average of 17 people each day in 1996.