MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the ban on the elections for the Tibetan government in exile in Nepal

5.4.2011

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Véronique De Keyser on behalf of the S&D Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0263/2011

B7‑0268/2011

European Parliament resolution on the ban on the elections for the Tibetan government in exile in Nepal

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its resolution on Nepal of 17 June 2010 and its resolution on Tibet of 26

October 2006,

–   having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

–   having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of 1966,

–   having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A.   whereas on 10 March 2011 the Dalai Lama announced that he would formally relinquish his political leadership role in the Tibetan exile government which is based in Dharamsala, India, in order to strengthen the democratic structure of the Tibetan movement on the eve of elections to choose a new generation of Tibetan political leaders,

B.   whereas on 20 March 2011, registered Tibetan voters in exile across the world were called to cast their votes for the next "Kalon Tripa", the chairperson or prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, and for members of its parliament,

C. whereas more than 10 000 Tibetans in exile in Nepal did not get permission to vote for a prime minister and members of parliament for the government-in-exile, whereas Nepali security forces in Kathmandu already in February confiscated ballot boxes, preventing Tibetan exiles from electing a new local leadership,

D.   whereas Nepal is home to about 20 000 Tibetans who began arriving in large numbers after the Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule,

E.   whereas Nepal's major parties adhere to the ' One China' policy, regarding Tibet as an integral part of China and thus keeping Tibetan refugees under close scrutiny, whereas since 2008, Nepal has hardened its stance on the Tibetan refugees, a trend generally observed in the country's increasing ties with China,

F. whereas the Kathmandu police chief stated that the police has warned Tibetans to stay away from the voting, whereas, according to him, Nepali security forces are always ready to prevent Tibetans from using the country's soil against its neighbours,

G. whereas the Nepali authorities, particularly the police, have repeatedly been reported of violating basic human rights such as freedom of expression, assembly and association of Tibetans in exile in Nepal, whereas these rights are guaranteed for all persons in Nepal by international human rights treaties to which Nepal is party, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),

 

H.  whereas the overall situation of many refugees in Nepal, in particular the Tibetans, gives cause for concern,

1.  Notes that the Dalai Lama recently announced his relinquishment of the political leadership role in the Tibetan government-in-exile, a decision intended to strengthen the democratic structure of the Tibetan movement and to open the way to choose a new generation of Tibetan political leaders;

2. Welcomes the fact that Nepal has provided a home for Tibetan exiles for more than fifty years;

3.  Deplores strongly the fact that more than 10 000 registered Tibetan voters in exile in Nepal were banned by the Nepali authorities from casting their vote for a new "Kalon Tripa" and for members of a Tibetan parliament-in-exile;

4.  Urges the Nepali authorities to respect the rights of Tibetans in Nepal to freedom of expression, assembly and association as guaranteed for all persons in Nepal by international human rights treaties to which Nepal is a party; calls on the authorities to refrain from preventive arrests and restrictions on demonstrations and freedom of speech that deny the right to legitimate peaceful expression and assembly during all activities marked by the Tibetan community in the country;

5. Is deeply concerned about the rise of restrictions imposed on Tibetan exiles by the Nepali authorities in recent years which smack of discrimination and the singling out of one community and which place a black mark on the human rights record of the Nepali government;

6.  Calls on the Nepali government to review its 'One China' policy which set aside its domestic and international legal obligations in pursuit of this policy;

7.  Urges the government to resist the strong pressure exerted by the Chinese government to silence the Tibetan community in Nepal in using restrictions which are not only unjustified but also illegal under domestic and international law;

8.   Calls on the Chinese government to cease its pressure on the Nepali government to violate the rights of Tibetan exiles;

9. Considers that the continuation of the full implementation of the 'Gentlemen's Agreement' on the Tibetan refugees by the Nepali authorities is essential for maintaining contact between the UNHCR and Tibetan communities;

10.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government of Nepal, the Government-in exile and Parliament-in-exile of Tibet, the Government of the People's Republic of China, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.