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European Parliament Resolution on Repression in Tibet (June 1993) [p.302]

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

THURSDAY 24 JUNE, 1993

4 (E) 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 pervious 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 canceled 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 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.


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