The Tibet-Intergroup

Rights of exiled Tibetans in Nepal must be respected

The European Parliament is today expected to call on the government of Nepal to respect the rights of exiled Tibetans living in the country, allowing them to vote in their own internal elections. "Freedom of speech and the right to vote are universal human rights. Nepal must not give in to pressure from Beijing and must allow the 20.000 Tibetans in the country to exercise their right to vote for their government in exile", the chairman of the European Parliament's cross-party intergroup on Tibet, German MEP Thomas Mann (EPP) said.

The European Parliament's resolution, which has the support of all major political groups in the House, will be formally adopted at 4pm CET today. The draft text calls on Nepalese authorities to "refrain from preventive arrests and restrictions on demonstrations and freedom of speech" of the country's Tibetan community. Furthermore, it urges the government of Nepal to include these basic rights as well as the freedom of religion in the country's new constitution, due to be enacted by 28 May 2011.

"The EU has to closely monitor the situation in Nepal and make sure the government respects the fundamental rights of the Tibetan community. The EU's High Representative on foreign affairs, Catherine Ashton, has to confront the governments of Nepal and China with this question", Thomas Mann said.

Europaparlament verurteilt Wahl-Unterbindung in Nepal

"Das Europäische Parlament wird heute um 16 Uhr (MEZ) in Straßburg eine Resolution verabschieden, in der es die Unterbindung der tibetischen Exilwahl durch die nepalesische Regierung verurteilt. Rund 20.000 Exil-Tibeter in Nepal waren davon betroffen. Alle großen Fraktionen des Europäischen Parlaments haben gemeinsam an diesem Text gearbeitet, so dass seine Annahme sicher ist", erklärte der Autor der Resolution, der deutsche Europaabgeordnete Thomas Mann (CDU). Er ist Präsident der Tibet Intergruppe im EP, der rund 100 Abgeordnete angehören und die sich für die Belange der Tibeter einsetzt.

"Nepal ist doch kein Vasallenstaat! Die Regierung in Kathmandu muss beweisen, dass sie sich von chinesischen Einflussnahmen befreien kann. Zu den Grundrechten gehören Redefreiheit, Versammlungsfreiheit und nicht zuletzt Wahlfreiheit. Der Europäische Auswärtige Dienst muss mit Nachdruck auf die Einhaltung dieser Menschenrechte pochen und die Vorfälle untersuchen!", unterstrich Mann in Straßburg.

Zum Hintergrund: "Am 20. März nahmen über 80.000 Exil-Tibeter weltweit an der Direktwahl des neuen Premierministers und der Mitglieder der Regierung teil. Europaabgeordnete, darunter Mitglieder unserer Tibet-Intergruppe, waren als Wahlbeobachter unterwegs. In der Schweiz erlebte ich, was meine Kollegen in anderen Staaten feststellten: Die Wahlen verliefen fair, geheim und absolut nach demokratischen Regeln! Den einzigen Zwischenfall gab es in Nepal. Dort verhinderten Sicherheitsbehörden - auf Druck der Chinesen - die Wahlbeteiligung zehntausender Tibeter. Damit setzten sie gezielt die Maßnahmen des letzten Jahres fort, als Wahlurnen konfisziert und Wahllokale geschlossen wurden", erläuterte Mann.

EP condemns China's plans for the one language policy

The European Parliament (EP) will decide today at 16.00 hrs on a Resolution drafted by EPP Group Member Thomas Mann on the one language policy in Tibet. Members of all political groups in the EP (with exception of the GUE) submitted the Resolution. The text will therefore adopted by the plenary. "Over the last weeks, thousands of Tibetans have been peacefully protesting against plans to end the successful two language policy in Tibetan schools. The origin of these plans is the region of Qinghai where Tibetans live. High-level representatives of the Chinese Communist Party proclaimed that Mandarin Chinese should be the language of instruction as of 2015. There were also demonstrations in Brussels by Tibetan students who handed me a Resolution in front of the EP."

"Today, the EP is sending a clear signal to Beijing: China can never replace the Tibetan language! The EP will ask the European diplomatic representative in China to visit Tibet and to report on the language issue", Thomas Mann MEP, Chairman of the Tibet Intergroup in the EP, with more than 100 members, said.

"This time, the Tibetans are not the only ones concerned: even Cantonese and Shanghainese could be replaced by Mandarin in schools as well on radio. Hundreds of millions of people in South and East China, Hong Kong and Shanghai would be affected. There have been protests and Internet campaigns against the announcements by the regional authorities. The government itself admits that Mandarin is spoken by about half of all Chinese people", Mann underlined.

"Article 4 of China's Constitution and Article 10 of the Regional Autonomy law guarantee the freedom of all peoples to choose and develop their own language - spoken and written. Today, the EP will ask the Chinese Government to ensure that Tibetans can continue to exercise this right in the future", Thomas Mann concluded.

EP verurteilt chinesische Pläne zur Einsprachenpolitik

Das Europäische Parlament (EP) entscheidet heute um 16 Uhr über eine Resolution auf der Grundlage eines Entwurfs des CDU-Europaabgeordneten Thomas Mann zur Einsprachenpolitik in Tibet. Mitglieder aller Fraktionen des EP (außer der GUE) haben die Resolution eingereicht, so dass kein Zweifel an ihrer Annahme besteht. "Tausende Tibeter haben in den vergangenen Wochen friedlich gegen Pläne protestiert, die erfolgreiche Zweisprachenpolitik an tibetischen Schulen zu beenden. Ausgangspunkt der Pläne ist die von vielen Tibetern bewohnte Region Qinghai, in der hochrangige Vertreter der KP Chinas verkündeten, dass Mandarin-Chinesisch ab 2015 die Unterrichtssprache werden solle. Auch in Brüssel gab es eine Demonstration tibetischer Schüler, die mir eine Resolution vor dem EP übergaben."

"Das EP sendet heute ein klares Signal an Peking: Die tibetische Sprache kann durch Chinesisch niemals ersetzt werden! Das EP wird die diplomatischen Vertreter Europas in China auffordern, Tibet zu besuchen und über die Sprachenfrage zu berichten", erklärte Thomas Mann, der Präsident der Tibet Intergruppe im EP ist, der mehr als 100 Abgeordnete angehören.

"Diesmal sind die Tibeter nicht alleine betroffen: Auch Kantonesisch und Shanghainesisch könnten durch Mandarin in Schulen sowie im Rundfunk ersetzt werden. Hunderte Millionen Menschen in Süd- und Ost-China, Hongkong und Shanghai wären davon betroffen. Auch hier gab es bereits Proteste und Internet-Kampagnen gegen Ankündigungen der regionalen Behörden. Die Regierung selbst gibt an, dass Mandarin von etwa der Hälfte aller Chinesen gesprochen wird", unterstrich Mann.

"Artikel 4 der Verfassung Chinas und Artikel 10 des Gesetzes zur regionalen Autonomie garantieren die Freiheit aller Volksgruppen, ihre eigene Sprache anzuwenden und weiterzuentwickeln - in Wort und Schrift. Das EP wird die chinesische Regierung heute auffordern, zu versichern, dass die Tibeter dieses Recht weiterhin ausüben können", sagte Thomas Mann abschließend.

2008 - European Parliament Resolution on Tibet

On April 10 the European Parliament passed a resolution on the situation in Tibet following the debate held in Brussels on 26 March. European Parliament President Hans Gert Pöttering said: "The European Parliament has for many years resolutely maintained that human rights must be respected in Tibet".

The resolution, carried by an overwhelming majority, calls on European Leaders to consider the non-attencance of the opening ceremonies of the Beijing-hosted Olympic Games in August. It also calls on the Chinese Government to start a peaceful and sincere dialogue with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and his Envoys. An independent inquiry, under the auspices of the United Nations, into the recent riots and repression is to be held.

See the full text of the resolution below:

European Parliament resolution of 10 April 2008 on Tibet

Thursday, 10 April 2008 - Brussels

2007

Conference Declaration – DRAFT

Brussels, 8 November 2007

On the Tibetan Environment

Joint Motion for a Resolution

Wednesday, 14 February 2007

European Parliament resolution on the dialogue between the Chinese Government and Envoys of the Dalai Lama

2004-2006 Term

Joint Motion

Wednesday, 25 October 2006

Joint Motion for a Resolution replacing the motions by the following groups:

• PSE (B6-0555/2006)
• UEN (B6-0557/2006)
• Verts/ALE (B6-0558/2006)
• PPE-DE (B6-0562/2006)
• GUE/NGL (B6-0565/2006)
• ALDE (B6-0568/2006)

EU-China Relations

Thursday, 7 September 2006

European Parliament resolution on EU-China Relations (2005/2161(INI))

EU-China Relations

Wednesday, 20. July 2006

Report on EU-China Relations (2005/2161(INI))

Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 2005 and the EU's policy on the matter  

Thursday, 18 May 2006

European Parliament resolution on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 2005 and the EU's policy on the matter (2005/2203(INI))

Human rights situation in Tibet and Hong Kong

Thursday, 15 December 2005

European Parliament resolution on Tibet and Hong Kong

Case of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche

Thursday, 27 October 2005

European Parliament resolution on the case of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche

Human rights in the world (2004) and the EU's policy

Thursday, 28 April 2005

European Parliament resolution on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 2004 and the EU's policy on the matter (2004/2151(INI))

Human Rights (Geneva, 14 March to 22 April 2005)

Thursday, 24 February 2005

European Parliament resolution on the EU's priorities and recommendations for the 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva (14 March to 22 April 2005)

Tenzin Delek Rinpoche - Tibet

Thursday, 13 January 2005

European Parliament resolution on Tibet

Tibet (case of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche)

Thursday, 18 November 2004

European Parliament resolution on Tibet, the case of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche

1999-2004 Term

Preparations for the 60th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights

Tuesday, 10 February 2004

European Parliament resolution on the EU's rights, priorities and recommendations for the 60th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva (15 March to 23 April 2004)

EU Rsponse to the Sino-Tibetan Dialogue

Tuesday, 12 November 2003

Resolution adopted by the European Parliament Forum on Tibet

Nepal

Thursday, 23 October 2003

European Parliament resolution on Nepal

CFSP

Thursday, 23 October 2003

European Parliament resolution on the annual report from the Council to the European Parliament on the main aspects and basic choices of CFSP, including the financial implications for the general budget of the European Union - 2002 (7038/2003 - C5-0423/2003 - 2003/2141(INI))

UN Commission on Human Rights

Thursday, 30 January 2003

European Parliament resolution on the EU's rights, priorities and recommendations for the 59th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva (17 March to 25 April 2003)

Tibet

Thursday, 19 December 2002

European Parliament resolution on the human rights situation of Tibetans

EU Policy Toward China

Thursday, 11 April 2002

European Parliament resolution on the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament on a EU Strategy towards China: Implementation of the 1998 Communication and future steps for a more effective EU policy (COM(2001) 265 – C5-0098/2001 – 2001/2045(COS))

Preparations for the March 2002 meeting of the UNCHR in Geneva

Thursday, 7 February 2002

European Parliament resolution on the EU's rights, priorities and recommendations for the 58th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva

United Nations Human Rights Commission and the People's Republic of China

Thursday, 5 April 2001

European Parliament resolution on the submission or co-sponsorship with the United States of a resolution, at the 57th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, deploring the human rights situation in the People's Republic of China (PRC)

Human rights: Religious freedoms in the People's Republic of China

Thursday, 15 February 2001

European Parliament resolution on freedom of religion in the People's Republic of China

Council priorities for the meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva

Thursday, 18 January 2001

European Parliament resolution on the EU human rights priorities and recommendations for the upcoming session of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva

Tibet

Thursday, 6 July 2000

European Parliament resolution on the Western China Poverty Reduction Project and the future of Tibet

Human rights: Tibet

Thursday, 13 April 2000

European Parliament resolution on Tibet

UN Commission on human rights, including the situation in China

Thursday, 17 February 2000

European Parliament resolution on human rights

Human Rights: China

Thursday, 20 January 2000

European Parliament resolution on the human rights situation in China

Older EU Parliament Resolutions

Resolution on the situation in Tibet: Join resolution replacing  Docs. B2-1008, 1013, 1027, 1053 and  1070/87

EN 198710  DE 198710  FR 198710

Resolution on the sentence of death inTibet on Lobsang Tensing, a 22 year old student: B3-551/90

EN 199003  DE 199003  FR 199003

Resolution on the human rights situation in Tibet: B3-1625/92

EN 199211  DE 199211  FR 199211

Resolution on the situation in Tibet: A3-0369/92

EN 199212  DE 199212  FR 199212

Resolution on repression in Tibet and the exclusion of the Dalai Lama from the World Conference on Human Rights: B3-0858, 0862, 0872, 0903 and 0929/93

EN 199306  DE 199306  FR 199306

Resolution on the detention of the Tibetans Gendun Rinchen, Loosang Yontam and Damchoe Pemo and other violations of human rights in Tibet: B3-1257 and 1307/93

EN 199310  DE199310  FR199310

Resolution on the sentence of up to 15 years' imprisonment pronounced against five Tibetans in China for 'counter-revolutionary activities': B4-0275/94

EN 199410  DE199410  FR199410

Human Rights; Resolution on Tibet: B4-0768 and 0826/95

EN 199505  DE 199505  FR 199505

Tibet; Resolution on the situation in Tibet and the disappearance of the six-year old Panchen Lama: B4-0963, 0979, 0983, 1003, 1007 and 1011/95

EN 199507  DE 199507  FR 199507

Human Rights; Resolution on the selection of the Panchen Lama and religious freedom in Tibet: B4-1499, 1516, 1522, 1544 and 1556/95