MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
15.1.2008
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Vittorio Agnoletto
on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
on the arrest of the Chinese dissident, Hu Jia
B6‑0031/2008
European Parliament resolution on the arrest of the Chinese dissident, Hu Jia
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its earlier resolutions on the human rights situation in China,
- having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the human rights campaigner Hu Jia was taken away by police at his home in Beijing on 27 December 2007 on charges of inciting subversion,
B. whereas Hu Jia and his wife, Zeng Jinyan, have thrown the spotlight on human rights abuses in China and spent many periods under house arrest over the past few years because of their campaigning,
C. whereas Hu Jia informed on 26 November 2007 the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights on the current situation in China,
D. whereas Hu Jia and Zeng Jinyan were nominated for the 2007 Sakharov Prize,
E. whereas human rights organizations called the arrest another move by Chinese authorities to silence critics ahead of the Beijing Olympics,
F. whereas 57 intellectuals from China published an open letter and called for the immediate release of Hu Jia,
1. Strongly condemns the detention of Hu Jia;
2. Calls on China to respect its commitments to human rights and the rule of law and urges the Chinese authorities to release him to show China’s commitment to human rights in its Olympic year;
3. Urges China not to abuse the Olympic Games in order to arrest dissidents, journalist or human rights activists to prevent embarrassing demonstrations and reportings;
4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the parliaments of the Member States, the governments and parliaments of the applicant countries, the President and Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China and the International Olympic Committee.