MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
10.3.2009
pursuant to Rule 108(5) of the Rules of Procedure
by Charles Tannock, Thomas Mann and Georg Jarzembowski
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising and dialogue between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese Government
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0135/2009
B6‑0136/2009
European Parliament resolution on the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising and dialogue between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese Government
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on country-regionChinacountry-region and on placeTibet,
- having regard to the previous eight rounds of dialogue between the Chinese Government and the envoys of the Dalai Lama, launched in September 2002,
- having regard to the statement on Tibet made by the US Administration and the European Union at the US-EU Summit on 10 June 2008,
- having regard to the statement of the Dalai Lama to the European Parliament of 4 December 2008,
- having regard to Rule 108(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas March 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight from country-regionTibetcountry-region and the beginning of his exile in placeIndia,
B. whereas on this occasion every year Tibetans commemorate the circumstances that led to their separation from the Dalai Lama, including the armed conflict between the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Tibetan resistance that resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Tibetans and the exile of tens of thousands more,
C. whereas the Chinese Government has decided that 28 March 2009, the 50th anniversary of its dissolution of the Tibetan Government, will henceforth be celebrated as 'Serfs' Emancipation Day', in the Tibet Autonomous Region,
D. whereas on 10 March 2008 a wave of protests against the Chinese Government's misrule began to spread across the Tibetan plateau, resulting in deaths, disappearances and long prison sentences for Tibetans, a security crackdown that remains in place, and the implementation of a 'strike hard' campaign by the Chinese Government authorities against the Tibetan people,
E. whereas the Dalai Lama has used his exile to promote a solution for Tibet through non-violence, peaceful means and dialogue with the Chinese Government and, for this, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize,
F. whereas eight rounds of dialogue between the envoys of the Dalai Lama and representatives of the Chinese Government have failed to achieve any concrete or substantive results,
G. whereas the 'Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People' respects the principles of the Chinese Constitution and the territorial integrity of the People's Republic of China, but was rejected by the Chinese Government as a bid for 'semi-independence' or 'independence in disguise',
1. Urges the Chinese Government to consider the 'Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People' of November 2008 as a basis for substantive discussion with a view to positive and meaningful change in Tibet, while conforming to the principles outlined in the Constitution and laws of the People's Republic of China;
2. Calls on the Council Presidency to adopt a declaration on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the exile of the Dalai Lama to India asking the Chinese Government to start a meaningful direct engagement with the Dalai Lama and his envoys and to include a reference to the 'Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People';
3. Urges the Council Presidency to invite the Dalai Lama to a meeting of the General Affairs Council with a view to discussing how the EU could facilitate progress on a solution for country-regionplaceTibet;
4. Calls on the Council to reassess the appointment of a special representative for Tibetan issues;
5. Calls on the next European Parliament to organise a special hearing before the end of 2009 on the human rights situation in placecountry-regionTibet and the Sino-Tibetan dialogue process;
6. Calls on the Chinese President, Hu Jintao, to demonstrate his commitment to his statement of 6 March 2008 that 'stability in Tibet concerns the stability of the country, and safety in Tibet concerns the safety of the country', and insists that the Chinese leadership must ensure the wellbeing of the Tibetan people and must maintain social harmony and stability by instructing the Standing Committee of the Regional People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region to cancel its decision to commemorate 28 March as 'Serfs' Emancipation Day';
7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the PlaceNameMemberPlaceType States, the President, Government and Parliament of the People's Republic of placecountry-regionChina, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.