EU must react firmly to China’s repression of protests in Tibet:
The Spokespersons of the European Green Party today condemned the violent repression of protests in Tibet in the past few days which has resulted in the death of at least 80 protesters, according to the Tibetan government in exile.
EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts said: "The brutal reaction of the Chinese authorities to the protests in Tibet and neighbouring regions merits the firmest possible response from the international community, in particular the European Union. Expressions of concern from member states and the European institutions are not enough and must be followed up with particular measures. Specifically, the EU must urge the Chinese government to launch serious negotiations with all representatives of the Tibetan people, including the Tibetan government in exile. The EU must increase pressure on China to grant genuine and meaningful autonomy to Tibet in contrast to the current situation where autonomy merely exists on paper. The EU must also urgently establish the position of an EU Special Envoy to Tibet, as it has been asked to do in several resolutions from the European Parliament. We also support the call by Amnesty International for China to allow an independent UN investigation into the events of the last few days in Tibet. "
EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek continued: "China's appalling human rights record is of course receiving more international media attention than usual because the Olympic Games will be held in Beijing in August of this year. It is not only vital that this scrutiny by the media continues in the run up to the Olympics but that all those who have any influence over the Chinese authorities speak openly and firmly about the need for human rights, including the right to protest, freedom of expression and freedom of religion, to be respected not only in Tibet but throughout China. We call on the International Olympic Committee to criticise, both publicly and in their meetings with the Chinese government, the brutal repression of the protests in Tibet and the persecution of human rights activists in other parts of China."
Letter to Jacques Rogge, president of the IOC (pdf)
