B4-0750/97

Resolution on the situation in Inner Mongolia and the sentence passed on Mr Hada, founder of the Southern Mongolian Democracy Alliance

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on abuses of human rights in the People's Republic of China and annexed territories,

A. whereas the People's Republic of China has pursued a repressive policy with regard to the population of Inner Mongolia ever since the 1947 occupation, and whereas in the course of 50 years of Chinese rule over 150 000 Mongols have disappeared and 800 000 have been imprisoned,

B. whereas Mr Hada, founder of the Southern Mongolian Democracy Alliance (SMDA) was arrested on a charge of separatism, sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment and deprived of political rights for a period of 4 years,

C. having regard to recent events in Hohhot, capital of Inner Mongolia, which led to the arrest of a large number of SMDA supporters involved in efforts to preserve Mongolia's cultural and linguistic heritage,

D. denouncing the continuing practice of organizing the movement of large numbers of people to Inner Mongolia with a view to transforming the ethnic composition of the region, which has resulted in over 20 million Chinese settling in Inner Mongolia and reduced the native population to an insignificant minority (3.6 million Mongols according to 1992 estimates),

E. denouncing the use by the Chinese authorities of sterilization and forced abortion as methods of controlling population numbers,

F. whereas Buddhist monasteries continue to be destroyed in Inner Mongolia and the Mongol people's cultural, religious and linguistic integrity is continually under attack,

G. whereas, consequently, open and continuous discussions must be conducted between the European Union and the People's Republic of China, with particular reference to the extremely important questions of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,

H. whereas it is the duty of the European Union to intervene, with all the means at its disposal, to oppose any policy that threatens the integrity of populations or sections of it, or that aims to suppress their culture or their aspirations to autonomy,

I. deeply concerned by the growing instability in Tibet and East Turkestan (Xinjiang), which are occupied by the People's Republic of China, and by the potential consequences for neighbouring regions,

1. Condemns the policy of the People's Republic of China, which aims to suppress the culture, religion and language of the population of Inner Mongolia and to stifle the Mongolian people's legitimate aspirations to autonomy;

2. Calls on the government of the People's Republic of China to embark on political dialogue with the Mongol opposition, with a view to reaching a peaceful negotiated settlement of the question;

3. Calls on the Chinese government to release all prisoners convicted of offences which are not recognized as such under the relevant international law and treaties;

4. Calls on the Chinese government to take immediate action to re-open the trial of Mr Hada, the founder of the SMDA, and the other activists arrested, in the presence of international observers;

5. Calls on the Chinese government to allow journalists and international observers free entry to Inner Mongolia;

6. Condemns the Chinese authorities for the discriminatory economic and political treatment applied to the population of the occupied regions of Inner Mongolia, East Turkestan and Tibet, and to other ethnic minorities;

7. Calls on the Commission to include, in the cooperation agreements with China, a clause prohibiting ethnic and political discrimination, and to set up effective bodies to monitor the application of that clause;

8. Calls on the Commission and the Council to bring pressure to bear on the authorities of the People's Republic of China to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental rights, whether on Chinese territory or in Inner Mongolia, Tibet and East Turkestan;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the parliaments of the Member States, the government of the People's Republic of China, the representatives of the Mongolian opposition in exile, the representatives of the opposition of East Turkestan in exile and the Tibetan government in exile.