DRAFT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

05 September 2005

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 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by José Ribeiro e Castro, Mario Mauro, John Bowis, Bernd Posselt, Vytautas Landsbergis, Thomas Mann and Georg Jarzembowski
on behalf of the EPP-ED
on the violation of Human Rights in the People's Republic of China, in particular with regard to the freedom of religion

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B6-0475/2005

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 the long philosophical and religious tradition in China;

- having regard to Rule 115 of its Rules of Procedure;

A.  whereas the respect of human rights is a prominent priority of EU policies and one of the fundamental principles of the Union;

B.  whereas the promotion of human rights as established in the Treaties is an objective of the Common Foreign and Security Policy;

C.  whereas in view of the common tasks for the Third Millenium, the EU has to encourage the respect of human rights and freedom of religion in Asia as part of the foundation of a decent and successful 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, amongst other Christian denominations, the Catholic Church in the People’s Republic of China has endured a long-time persecution and was forced to go underground as a consequence of these practices;

F.  whereas the Chinese authorities have intensified its control of unregistered churches and interference in the process of appointment of bishops;

G.  whereas many Christian clergy have suffered brutal repression, being prevented not only from practising public worship but also being prevented from carrying out their ministry;

H.  whereas violence towards clergymen and lay Christians in the People’s Republic of China has increased and has led to an outcry from human rights organizations;

I.  deeply concerned about the increase in arbitrary arrests, torture, unexplained disappearances, penal servitude, isolation and re-education camps endured by Chinese Catholics;

J.  deeply worried about the violations of fundamental freedoms, such as the freedom of expression and of religion, which increases social tension and could diminish the social and economic development of China;

1.  Urges the Chinese Government to respond to international calls for improvement of the human rights situation and to guarantee democracy, freedom of expression, freedom of the media and political and religious freedom in China;

2.  Urges the Chinese Government to abolish the difference between approved and non-approved worship communities, as suggested by the UN Commission on Religious Intolerance since 1994;

3.  Calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to continue to exert pressure on China to improve its human rights record in accordance with international standards;

4.  Urges the Commission, the Council and the Member States to raise specifically the issue of the persecution of Chinese Catholics, since there is a worrying trend towards violations of their basic freedoms;

5.  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 about 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 unconditional release of all Chinese Catholics incarcerated due to their religious convictions and to cease immediately all kinds of violence towards them;

6.  Urges the Chinese Government to abstain from persecuting and conditioning the internal structure and religious activities of the Chinese Catholic Church, other Christian denominations, Buddhism such as in Tibet, Muslim minorities, as well as any other religious believer and practitioner;

7.  Urges the Chinese Government to adopt balanced, non-arbitrary, legislation that fully guarantees the freedoms of speech, association and practice of religion;

8.  Urges the Chinese Government to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

9.  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.