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B8-1256/2016
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Gui Minhai, jailed publisher in China

22.11.2016 - (2016/2990(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Bodil Valero, Reinhard Bütikofer, Helga Trüpel, Ernest Urtasun, Heidi Hautala, Barbara Lochbihler, Igor Šoltes, Jakop Dalunde on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-1256/2016

Procedūra : 2016/2990(RSP)
Procedūros eiga plenarinėje sesijoje
Dokumento priėmimo eiga :  
B8-1256/2016
Pateikti tekstai :
B8-1256/2016
Debatai :
Priimti tekstai :

B8‑1256/2016

European Parliament resolution on the case of Gui Minhai, jailed publisher in China

(2016/2990(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on China with regard, in particular to the one of 16 February 2016 on the case of the missing book publishers in Hong Kong,

 

- having regard to the statement of the EU and its Member States of 29 January 20016 on EU Concerns about the Human Rights situation in China,

 

- having regard to the Statement by the Spokesperson of the HR/VP for CFSP on the disappearance of individuals associated with the Mighty Current publishing house in Hong Kong, 07 January 2016,

 

- having regard to the EU-China Strategic Partnership launched in 2003,

 

- having regard to the adoption of the new national security law by the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress of 1 July 2015, and the publication of the second draft of a new Foreign NGO Management law on 5 May 2015,

 

- having regard to the EU-China dialogue on human rights launched in 1995 and the 34nd round held in Beijing on 30 November-1st December 2015,

 

- having regard to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure,

 

A. whereas from October to December 2015 five Hong Kong associated with the publishing house Mighty Current or its bookstore, Causeway Bay Books, have been reported missing,

 

B. whereas local Hong Kong publisher Mighty Current is known for indelicate biographical works on China's political leaders with titles that are especially popular with visitors from mainland China; whereas these publications are legal in Hong-Kong, where this publishing company is based, but not in Mainland China,

 

C. whereas Gui Minhai, a Chinese-born naturalised Swedish scholar who has frequently published books and texts about Chinese politics and Chinese politicians, was taken from his apartment in Pattaya, Thailand, by an unknown man on October 17 2015; whereas on November 13 Gui's daughter Angela managed to get in contact with him via Skype for the first time in three weeks and he told her that he'd be fine,

 

D. whereas on 17 January 2016 Gui Minhai appeared on Chinese state television saying he voluntarily handed himself over to the authorities after being on the run for 12 years over a drink-driving conviction in what appeared to be a forced confession,

 

E. whereas on February 4 Chinese authorities confirmed that the publicists were being under investigation; whereas later that month, Swedish diplomats briefly met with Gui, who said that he did not want any help but since then, Swedish authorities have not been able to contact him; whereas before returning to the mainland. Gui Minhai called his daughter and told her to cease giving interviews or ask authorities for help,

 

F. whereas in June, Lam Wing-Kee, one of the publicists, returned to Hong-Kong to close the inquiry into his disappearance, but instead of returning to the Mainland, he told media that he had been abducted by Chinese security services, been kept isolated and forced to confess to crimes he had not committed in front of TV-cameras,

 

G. whereas Angela Gui has not heard from her father since June and Chinese authorities deny any inquiries into Mr. Gui's whereabouts and well-being; whereas the Swedish foreign ministry was allowed a consular visit late September, but it led nowhere,

 

H. whereas these disappearances are having a chilling effect on other booksellers and due to this some have already removed titles critical of China's leaders; whereas there is a growing perception that Hong Kong's political freedoms are under attack by mainland authorities,

 

I. whereas the disappearances follow a series of violent attacks in 2013 and 2014 against Hong Kong journalists critical of Beijing; whereas China blocks the websites of foreign news outlets that are critical of the regime and it appears to be losing patience with criticism arising in Hong Kong's lively media environment, which is accessible to the large numbers of mainlanders who visit Hong Kong,

 

J. whereas Article 27 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong's de facto constitution, guarantees: "freedom of speech, of the press and of publication, freedom of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration"; whereas this Law, negotiated between China and the United Kingdom, guarantees those rights for a 50-year period ending in 2047,

 

K. whereas since President Xi Jinping assumed power in March 2013 the human rights situation in China itself continues to deteriorate with the government stepping up its hostility toward peaceful dissent, freedoms of expression and religion, and the rule of law; whereas the Chinese authorities have detained and prosecuted hundreds of human rights defenders,

 

L. whereas the Chinese government has drafted or passed a slew of new laws that cast public activism and peaceful criticism of the government as state security threats, strengthen censorship, surveillance and control of individuals and social groups and deter individuals from campaigning for human rights with regard, in particular, to the State Security Law, passed on July 1, 2015, the draft Counterterrorism Law, the draft Cybersecurity Law, and the draft Foreign NGO Management Law,

 

M. whereas in its strategic framework on human rights and democracy, the EU pledges that human rights, democracy, and rule of law will be promoted “in all areas of the EU's external actions without exception” and that the EU will “place human rights at the centre of its relations with all third countries including strategic partners.”,

 

1. Calls on China to immediately account for Gui Minhai whereabouts and wellbeing allowing him unfettered access to family, lawyers and Swedish diplomats and release him;

 

2. Urges the Chinese authorities to explain and clarify the circumstances of Gui Mingai disappearance;

 

3. Expresses its sympathy and solidarity with the people of Hong Kong in support of democratic reforms and calls on the Chinese authorities to respect the independence of the judicial system, fundamental freedoms and rights, transparency and freedom of information and expression in Hong Kong in line with the "One country, two system" principle;

 

4. Calls on China to respect the guarantees of autonomy in Hong Kong as set out in the Basic Law, which stipulates that China only involve itself in Hong Kong’s foreign affairs and defense;

 

5. Calls on China to release or drop all charges against peaceful government critics, anti-corruption activists, lawyers, and journalists;

 

6. Invites the EU High Representative and EU Member States to adopt  Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on China that stress the critical importance of human rights in the EU-China relationship, convey a clear sense of concern about the negative trends in China in this regard, along with an expectation that the Chinese authorities take specific steps in response; stresses that such conclusions would serve to bind the 28 EU Member States and EU institutions to a common message and approach with regards to human rights in China;

 

7. Notes that a strong contradiction exists between the official Chinese aspiration to the universality of human rights and the worsening human rights situation; points out that the recent worsening of the situation of human rights and freedoms in China that started in 2013 has intensified an already existing crackdown over the population, limiting the space for expression and peaceful advocacy for civil society even further; expresses its deep concern at the arrest, trial and sentencing of numerous civil rights activists, human rights defenders and government critics; calls on the Chinese authorities to release those in custody and to ensure that they can exercise their profession without hindrance;

 

8.  Believes that strong ongoing EU-China relations must provide an effective platform for a mature, meaningful and open human rights dialogue based on mutual respect;

 

9. Takes the view that in order to be truly effective, and to implement the EU’s own Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy, adopted in June 2012, the EU should clearly articulate its concerns and set out transparent benchmarks for advancing human rights in China as a means to ensure that EU messaging reaches not just Chinese government officials, but also people across China and Europe;

 

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EEAS, the Council, the Commission and to the President, the Government and Parliament of the People's Republic of China and to the Chief Executive and the Assembly of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.