MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Tibet, including the self-immolation of nuns and monks

25.10.2011

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

Kristiina Ojuland, Marietje Schaake, Nathalie Griesbeck, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Sonia Alfano, Leonidas Donskis, Marielle De Sarnez, Edward McMillan-Scott, Alexandra Thein, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Niccolò Rinaldi on behalf of the ALDE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0540/2011

B7‑0563/2011

European Parliament resolution on Tibet, including the self-immolation of nuns and monks

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Tibet and China,

 

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

 

 

 

A. whereas the human rights situation in Tibet is worsening due to the continued crackdown by Chinese authorities on monasteries and lay communities including security raids, arbitrary detentions, increased surveillance within monasteries and police presence;

 

B. whereas the continued crackdown has exacerbated tensions between Tibetans and the Chinese authorities, creating further unrest and giving rise to extreme acts of protest, including self-immolations;

 

C. whereas Kirti monastery in Aba prefecture of Sichuan province has been the site of repeated protests against Chinese rule and of several self-immolations this year, the most recent cases occurring on 7 October 2011, when Choepel and Khaying set themselves on fire and Tenzin Wangmo, a nun, set herself on fire and died on 17 October 2011;

 

D. whereas in September several Kirti monks were given lengthy prison sentences for allegedly helping another monk to kill himself through self-immolation in March 2011;

 

E. whereas the Chinese government has accused the monks in Kirti monastery of being involved in acts "aimed at disturbing social order", including vandalism and self-immolation;

 

F. whereas the Chinese authorities have ordered the "legal education" of several Kirti monks, an incident, among others, that resulted in queries from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights;

 

G. whereas since 2002 public security spending in the Tibetan area of Sichuan province has increased considerably, while a new "anti-terrorist" unit was set up in 2007 to address "violent anti-terrorist activity" without any apparent correlation with any actual terrorist threat or activity;

 

 

1. Condemns the continued crackdown by Chinese authorities on Tibetan monasteries and calls on them to end restrictions and lift security measures imposed on monasteries and lay communities and restore the lines of communication to the monks of Kirti monastery;

 

2. Calls on the Chinese government to exercise restraint in handling protests, and to ensure that the resolution of the Kirti monastery stand-off is carried out in accordance with due process and international law;

 

3. Calls on the Chinese authorities to respect the freedom of religion and cultural rights of the Tibetan people and argues that the maintenance of public security should not encroach on such fundamental rights and those rights guaranteed by the Chinese constitution;

 

4. Calls for Chinese authorities to address the root causes of fatal protests in Tibet by engaging in active and meaningful consultation with ethnic minorities, in particular the Tibetan people;

 

5. Condemns the sentencing of the Kirti monks and insists on their right to a fair trial and the adequate provision of legal assistance for the length of said trial; calls for independent observers to be allowed access to Kirti monks held in detention;

 

6. Calls on the Chinese authorities to provide satisfactory information on the whereabouts and situation of Choepel and Khaying and other monks and lay people detained since 16 March 2011;

 

7. Calls on the Chinese authorities to respect traditional Tibetan death rites and return remains in adherence with Buddhist rituals and without delay or hindrance;

 

8. Calls for and supports renewed dialogue between the elected Tibetan government and Chinese authorities as a means of negotiating a non-violent solution;

 

9. Calls on the Chinese authorities to allow international organisations to observe the human rights situation in Tibet and grant them unlimited access to the area.

 

10. Calls on High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, to raise the issue of the worsening human rights situation across China - with a strong focus on recent events in Tibet and the recent self-immolations - during the forthcoming EU-China summit on 25 October 2011;

 

11. Calls on the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, as well as President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy; Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel; Prime Minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi; and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, to address the human rights situation in Tibet with President of the People's Republic of China, Hu Jintao at the upcoming G-20 Summit on 3-4 November 2011 in Cannes;

 

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of the People's Republic of China, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the elected Central Tibetan Administration.