EU. THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CONDEMNS CHINA ON HUMAN AND RELIGIOUS RIGHTS

July 12, 2006: the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has, with a wide majority, adopted a report on relations between the European Union and China which asks Beijing for greater respect of human rights, religious freedom and freedom of information. 
The report, drafted at the initiative of Dutch MEP Bastiaan Belder, consists of a series of considerations and requests addressed to Beijing on economic, social and religious matters, to make more truthful “the partnership” between the EU and China, which has existed for 30 years and which should be based on “credibility, stability and responsibility.” 
China is asked to eliminate its laogai system (labour camps for re-education).  The report also condemns the practice of torture and internment of dissidents and Tibetan monks in psychiatric hospitals.  It asks that attention be given to social unrest and that the death penalty be abolished.
On freedom of information, the EU speaks out against the increasing lack of press freedom and the systems of Internet censorship.
The report also highlighted the defence of religious freedom for Tibetans, Muslims in Xinjiang and groups of the Falun Gong. (Sources: AsiaNews, 12/07/2006)