European Parliament resolution of 12 March 2009

European Parliament resolution of 12 March 2009 on the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising and dialogue between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese Government

The European Parliament ,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on China and Tibet, in particular its resolutions of 10 April 2008 on Tibet(1) and 10 July 2008 on the situation in China after the earthquake and before the Olympic Games(2) ,

– having regard to the statement made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the European Parliament on 4 December 2008,

– having regard to the statement on Tibet made by the US Administration and the European Union at the US-EU Summit on 10 June 2008,

– having regard to Rule 108(5) of its Rules of Procedure,A. whereas March 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's flight from Tibet and the beginning of his exile in India,

B. whereas eight rounds of dialogue between the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and representatives of the Chinese Government have produced no breakthrough and no further talks are planned,

C. whereas the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People, produced at the request of the Chinese Government and presented by envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the eighth round of talks in November 2008 in Beijing, respects the principles underpinning the Chinese Constitution and the territorial integrity of the People's Republic of China, but was rejected by the Chinese Government as an attempt at 'semi-independence' and 'independence in disguise',

D. whereas His Holiness the Dalai Lama has appealed for non-violence, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his efforts and is not calling for the independence of Tibet but for the resumption of negotiations with the Chinese authorities, so as to reach a comprehensive political agreement on genuine autonomy, within the context of the People's Republic of China,

E. whereas over the last few days the Chinese authorities have tightened security in Tibet, with journalists and foreigners being banned from visiting the region and permits already issued to foreigners cancelled, implementing a 'strike hard' campaign against the Tibetan people,

F. whereas a large number of monks of the monastery of An Tuo, in the Chinese province of Qinghai, were arrested on 25 February 2009 during a peaceful march on the occasion of the Tibetan New Year,

1. Urges the Chinese Government to consider the Memorandum for Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People of November 2008 as a basis for substantive discussion leading towards positive, meaningful change in Tibet, consistent with the principles outlined in the Constitution and laws of the People's Republic of China;

2. Calls on the Council to ascertain what exactly happened during the negotiations between the People's Republic of China and the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama;

3. Calls on the Council Presidency, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the exile of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to India, to adopt a declaration calling on the Chinese Government to open a constructive dialogue with a view to reaching a comprehensive political agreement and to include a reference to the Memorandum for Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People;

4. Condemns all acts of violence, whether they are the work of demonstrators or disproportionate repression by the forces of law and order;

5. Calls on the Chinese Government to release immediately and unconditionally all those detained solely for engaging in peaceful protest, and to account for all those who have been killed or gone missing, and all those detained and the nature of the charges against them;

6. Asks the Chinese authorities to provide foreign media access to Tibet, including the Tibetan areas outside the Tibet Autonomous Region, and to abolish the system of special permits required for access to the Tibet Autonomous Region;

7. Urges the Chinese authorities to grant UN human rights experts and recognised international non-governmental organisations unimpeded access to Tibet so that they can investigate the situation there;

8. Urges the Council Presidency to take the initiative of including the question of Tibet on the agenda for a meeting of the General Affairs Council with a view to discussing how the EU could facilitate progress on a solution for Tibet;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the President, Government and Parliament of the People's Republic of China, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.