MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Ai Wei Wei

5.4.2011

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 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Edward McMillan-Scott on behalf of the ALDE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0274/2011

B7‑0274/2011

European Parliament resolution on the case of Ai Wei Wei

The European Parliament,

-    having regard to its previous resolutions on China, in particular its resolutions of, respectively, 13 December 2007 on the EU-China Summit and the EU/China human rights dialogue, and 26 November 2009 on ‘China: minority rights and the application of the death penalty’, on human rights violations in China, notably the case of Liu Xiaobo,

 

- having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

 

A.  Whereas the “Jasmine Revolutions” in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya have sparked a wave of calls on the internet for a Chinese “Jasmine Revolution” that resulted in a widespread crackdown on human rights activists and dissidents by the Chinese authorities,

 

B.  Whereas the internationally renowned artist and critic of the regime, Ai Wei Wei, has not been seen since he was detained while passing through security checks at Beijing airport on Sunday 3 April,

 

C.  Whereas further to his detention, his studio was allegedly raided by police, who confiscated several items,

 

D.  Whereas last year Ai Wei Wei was prevented from travelling abroad last year and was allegedly held under house arrest,

 

E.  Whereas Ai Wei Wei has allegedly been under constant surveillance and, according to his assistant, the police had visited his compound several times,

 

 

1.  Condemns the unjustifiable and unacceptable detention of the critic of the regime and internationally renowned artist, Ai Wei Wei;

 

2.  Calls on the Chinese authorities to release him immediately and provide guarantees of his wellbeing;

 

3.  Emphasises that police have refused to provide Ai Wei Wei's wife with information regarding the reason for his detention;

 

4.  Stresses that Ai Wei Wei's detention is an extremely worrying development and is representative of the widespread recent crackdown on human rights activists and dissidents in China, with numerous arrest, exaggerated prison sentences, increased personal surveillance, including the sentencing of Liu Xianbin in March 2011 to 10 years jail for “inciting subversion of state power”;

 

5.  Calls on the HR/VP to continue to raise the issue of human rights violations at the very highest level in her contacts with the Chinese authorities, in particular the cases of Liu Xiaobo and his wife, Liu Xia, Chen Guangcheng and his wife Yuan Weijing, Gao Zhisheng, Liu Xianbin, Hu Jia, Tang Jitian, Jiang Tianyong, Teng Biao, Liu Shihui, Tang Jingling, Li Tiantian, Ran Yunfei, Ding Mao and Chen Wei and report back on these cases to the European Parliament after the upcoming high-level political dialogue between the EU and China, which the HR/VP will participate in;

 

6.  Stresses that if he isn't released, and in light of the increasing intimidation of human rights activists and dissidents, that European Parliament Political Groups should reconsider their participation in the 2nd EU-China multi party forum in Beijing on 16-18 May;

 

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Policy, the President of the Council of the European Union, the Commission and the President, Prime Minister and People’s National Assembly of the People’s Republic of China.