DRAFT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
1 September 2005
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Graham Watson
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on the violation of Human Rights in the People's Republic of China, in particular with regard to the freedom of religion
B5-0457/2005
European parliament resolution on the violation of Human Rights in the People's Republic of China, in particular with regard to the freedom of religion
The European Parliament,
- -having regard to the EU Treaty and its provisions on human rights;
- -having regard to its previous resolutions on the violations of human and minority rights and religious freedom in China;
- -having regard to Rule 115 of its Rules of Procedure;
A. whereas respect for human rights is a prominent priority of EU policies and one of the fundamental principles of the Union;
B. whereas the promotion and the respect of human rights as established in the Treaties is an objective of the Common Foreign and Security Policy;
C. whereas the EU must encourage respect for human rights and for freedom of religion and beliefs in China as part of the foundation of an open and tolerant society;
D. whereas the People's Republic of China seeks to restrict religious practice to government-sanctioned organizations and registered places of worship and to control the growth and scope of activities of religious groups;
E. whereas controls on unregistered churches and interference in the process of appointment of bishops have been intensified by the Chinese authorities;
F. whereas many Christian clergy have suffered brutal repression, being prevented not only from practising public worship but also from carrying out their ministry;
G. whereas, since March, several large-scale raids on unregistered protestant churches have targeted leadership training sessions, bible classes and missionary activitiy;
H. deeply concerned about the increasing list of arbitrary arrests, torture, inexplicable disappearances, internments in labour, isolation and re-education camps endured by religious practitioners;
I. deeply concerned by the religious repression of Muslim Uighurs in Xinjang and Tibetan communities in Chinese provinces where the state-sanctioned crackdown on religious activities is stricter than in other parts of China;
J. concerned by the trials of a Tibetan monk, Tenzin Delek;
1. Stresses that the rapid growth of the Chinese economy should be accompanied by commensurate political and social reform with a significant improvement of the human rights situation in the country;
2. Urges the Chinese Government to respond to international calls for improvement in the human rights situation and to guarantee democracy, freedom of expression, freedom of the media and political and religious freedom in China;
3. Invites the Chinese government to abolish the difference between approved and non-approved worship communities, as suggested by the UN;
4. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to continue to exert pressure on China to improve her human rights record in accordance with international standards;
5. Urges the Commission, the Council and the Member States to raise specifically the issue of the persecution of religious practitioners,
6. Calls on the Chinese authorities to release immediately and unconditionally, from any form of detention, all those held for peaceful practice of activities associated with religious and or philosophical beliefs;
7. Recalls that Tenzin Delek, a Tibetan serving a life sentence, is of particular concern;
8. Urges the Chinese Government to give news about bishops (Mgr James Su Zhimin (diocese of Baoding, Hebei), 72; Mgr Francis An Shuxin (auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Baoding, Hebei), 54; Mgr Han Dingxian (diocese of Yongnian/Handan, Hebei), 66; Mgr Cosma Shi Enxiang (diocese of Yixian, Hebei), 83; Mgr Philip Zhao Zhendong, (diocese of Xuanhua, Hebei), 84; Fr Paul Huo Junlong, administrator of the diocese of Baoding,50; Mgr Shi Enxiang (diocese of Yixian Hebei province,83; urges also the Chinese Government to give news clergy disappeared and arrested, namely Zhang Zhenquan and Ma Wuyong (diocese of Baoding, Hebei; Fr Li Wenfeng, Fr Liu Heng, and Fr Dou Shengxia (diocese of Shijiazhuang, Hebei);Fr Chi Huitian (diocese of Baoding, Hebei); Fr Kang Fuliang, Chen Guozhen, Pang Guangzhao, Yin Ruose, and Li Shujun (diocese of Baoding, Hebei);Fr Lu Xiaozhou (diocese of Wenzhou, Zhejiang); Fr Lin Daoming (diocese of Fuzhou, Fujian); Fr Zheng Ruipin (diocese of Fuzhou, Fujian); Fr Pang Yongxing, Fr Ma Shunbao, and Fr Wang Limao (diocese of Baoding, Hebei);Fr Li Jianbo (diocese of Baoding, Hebei); and Fr Liu Deli; demands the unconditionally release all Chinese Catholics incarcerated because of their religious convictions and to immediately cease all kinds of violence towards them;
9. Invites the Chinese Government to adopt balanced, non-arbitrary, legislation that fully guarantees the freedoms of speech, association and of religion and beliefs;
10. Invites the Chinese Government to adopt an explicit provision guaranteeing freedom of belief and religious practice for those under eighteen and the right of parents to educate their children in the belief system of their choice;
11. Invites the Chinese Government to determine dates for a visit to China by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief;
12. Calls on the Chinese authorities to allow access for the UN Special Rapporteur to the Panchen Lama designated by the Dalai Lama;
13. Urges the Chinese Government to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
14. Invites the Council and the Commission to raise those issues of concern during the forthcoming EU-China Human rights structured dialogue;
15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Member countries of the UN Human Rights Commission and the Government of the People's Republic of China.