MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

24.10.2006

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 Marco Cappato, Marios Matsakis, Frédérique Ries,
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on Tibet

B6‑0568/06

European Parliament resolution on Tibet

The European Parliament,

• -having regard to its previous resolutions on Tibet and the human rights situation in China,
• -having regard to the lack of progress in the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue,
• -having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
• A.whereas more than 70 Tibetan refugees were preparing to cross the glaciated Nangpa La to enter Nepal,
• B.whereas against the rule of international law the Chinese People's Armed Police (PAP) shoot at the unarmed Tibetan refugees,
• C.whereas Kelsang Namtso, a seventeen-year-old nun, was killed and 20-year-old Kunsang Namgyal was injured; whereas 30 refugees were arrested after continuing to flee,
• D.whereas the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that several Tibetans had been injured in a border incident, but denied anyone was killed as a result of gunfire,
• E.whereas Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides 'everyone the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution' and whereas the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees also accords legitimate refugees with the same human rights as those enjoyed by nationals,
• 1.Calls on the Government of the PRC to continue the dialogue with the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in order to improve the respect of religious, cultural and linguistic rights in the Tibet Autonomous Region and effectively implement the right to self-determination, as enshrined in the UN Charter;
• 2.Expresses its dismay at the imprisonment of the 30 Tibetan refugees, 14 of whom are children;
• 3.Urges the authorities to guarantee that the refugees will not be ill-treated in detention, and that international human rights and humanitarian law standards are being respected;
• 4.Calls on the Council and the Commission to make strong representations to the Chinese authorities on this issue within the framework of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue;
• 5.Calls on the Government of the PRC to continue the dialogue with the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama;
• 6.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the UN Secretary General and the Government of the People's Republic of China.