08. Sep 2006
EP report critical of China’s human rights
(Tibet.net; Xinhua) A European Parliament (EP) report aimed at improving EU-Asian relations was scathing in its condemnation of the human rights situation in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The report was approved by 351 votes to 48 and came on the eve of a high-level EU-China summit held in Helsinki. The report specifically "deplores the contradiction between the constitutional freedom of belief (enshrined in Article 36 of the Constitution) and the ongoing interference of the State in the affairs of religious communities". The members of the EP expressed their concern about "the recent reports of continuing serious human rights abuses in Tibetan areas of China and are deeply concerned that the practice of torture remains widespread in China". The EP called on China to abolish the death penalty, and to "refrain from intimidating, cracking down on or imprisoning those who advocate freedom of expression". The report also called upon the Chinese government to "intensify its positive engagement in substantive negotiations regarding the demands of the Dalai Lama for autonomy for Tibet". Beijing responded to the report - "Commission Communication on Europe and Asia: A Strategic Framework for Enhanced Partnerships" - by saying that the report failed to take into account improvements in China’s human rights record and warned the EP against "releasing reports and passing resolutions that will poison the cooperative atmosphere between our two sides or ruin the already established Sino-European friendship".