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EU asks to see Panchen Lama
22/01/2001 23:04 - (SA)
Brussels - The European Union pressed China on Monday to let an independent
delegation visit the young Panchen Lama, who has been under house
arrest since he was chosen by the Dalai Lama five years ago.
It made the demand in a wide-ranging list of human rights areas in
which it says it wants to see progress from Beijing's communist
authorities as part of an ongoing EU-China dialogue.
EU foreign ministers urged China to show "respect for cultural rights and religious freedoms in Tibet" and to halt pro-Beijing "patriotic education campaigns" in the region.
It went on to demand "access for an independent delegation to the young Panchen Lama, Gedhun Chohekyi Nyima, who has been recognised by the Dalai Lama."
The teenager was six years old when in 1995 he was confirmed by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the previous Panchen Lama, who died in 1989. Immediately, the boy was put under house arrest by the Chinese authorities.
In Tibetan Buddhism, the Panchen Lama is the second most important figure after the Dalai Lama, who in 1959 fled his homeland by foot to India where he leads a Tibetan government in exile.
China says the boy is now attending school, and that his parents do not want him to come under the glare of international publicity.
'EU Falls Short of What Tibet Needs'
In a statement late on Monday, the London-based International Tibet Support Network said the EU position "falls well short of meeting the concerns of Tibet suporters worldwide."
"Tibet campaigners are urging EU foreign ministers to take a lead in sponsoring a resolution at the 57th UN Commission for Human Rights, pointing to the failure of dialogue to produce results," it said.
In their statement on Monday, the EU ministers acknowledged "initial progress" by Beijing towards adopting UN human rights covenants and reforming China's penal code and code of civil procedure.
"On the other hand, the European Union remains much concerned at the lack of progress in a number of areas," they said.
They include "the continuing widespread restrictions on freedom of assembly, expression and association, violations of freedom of religion and belief," the situation with Tibetan and other national minorities, and "the frequent and extensive recourse to the death penalty."
More Focus and Detail to Dialogue
But the ministers stressed that "dialogue is the preferred channel for working to improve the situation." To that end, they agreed on Monday to "step up the dialogue, focus it better and assess it on a continuous basis."
Preparations for dialogue sessions will be "more detailed," with a
bigger role to be played by human rights experts as well as
"greater continuity between sessions," the statement said.
Other areas in which the European Union wants to see progress
include:
Ratification and implementation of the UN covenants on civil and political rights, and its counterpart dealing with economic, social and cultural rights.
Co-operation with "human rights mechanisms" including the Office
of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Restrictions of cases in which the death penalty can be imposed,
and provision of statistics on exactly how many people in China
have been executed.
Respect for the right to fair and impartial trials, and for the right of an accused to be defended.
Respect for the fundamental rights of all prisoners, including
those arrested for membership of the political opposition,
unofficial religious movements and other movements, such as the
Falungong.
Progress on access to prisoners in autonomous regions of China,
which include Tibet and Xinjiang.
Untrammeled exercise of freedom of religion and belief, respect for the right of workers to organise, and respect for
"cultural rights and religious freedoms" in Tibet and Xinjiang.
Since 1997 the European Union and China have held nine human rights
dialogue sessions, described in Monday's statement as having been
held "in an atmosphere of openness." - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA
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