WRITTEN QUESTION P-2557/01

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(13 September 2001)

Subject: Arrest of the pro-democracy militants Mu Chuanheng and Yan Peng in the People's Republic of China

The pro-democracy militants Mu Chuanheng and Yan Peng were officially arrested by the Chinese authorities on 28 August for incitement to subversion. Mr Mu Chuanheng had been detained since 13 August for protesting against the illegal detention of the activist Yan Peng. The latter had been detained since 11 July on suspicion of illegal emigration. The two men are at risk of being sentenced to long terms of imprisonment, given the charges brought against them. Mr Mu Chuanheng, who has been a leading figures in the pro-democracy movement since 1979, was first arrested in 1981 and sentenced to a year's imprisonment for counter-revolutionary activities. He has been unable to work for 20 years and has lived under constant police surveillance. He has written many articles on social and political reconciliation and the need to launch a process of democratisation in China, but his repeated calls for people to protest against the arrest of Yan Peng were the immediate reason for his arrest. Mr Yan Peng, a leading dissident from Shandong province, was arrested on 11 July in the province of Guangxi, where he was travelling on holiday. He was charged with circulating, and publishing on the internet, articles by Mr Mu. To ensure that Beijing was selected for the 2008 Olympic Games and to prevent his family from publicising Yan Peng's arrest, the police had claimed that he would be released the next day. However, as soon as Beijing's victory had been announced, Yan Peng's arrest became official.

What information does the Commission have concerning the conditions of detention, and the state of health, of Mr Mu and Mr Yan, and what initiatives has the Commission taken, or does it intend to take, to obtain their immediate release by the authorities in Beijing?

Secondly, does the Commission not agree that the arbitrary arrest of these men, which follows a long series of such cases, provides further confirmation of the failure of the policy of critical dialogue on human rights, the absurdity of the programmes of judicial cooperation between the EU and the PRC and the risk, if not certainty, that the only purpose they ultimately serve is to sanction the Beijing authorities' authoritarianism and their profound contempt for the law, and hence for the rule of law?

More generally, does the Commission not agree that strong support, including financial support, for the activities of the democratic opposition to the Beijing regime might contribute more effectively to the development of fundamental freedoms and democracy in the PRC and would be much better suited to the promotion of the rule of law to which the EU claims to be committed?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 2001)

The Commission is aware of the arrests of Mr Mu and Mr Yan but does not have any new information about their current situation or their state of health.

The Commission is aware that there have been many arrests in China recently as a result of a government strike hard campaign against alleged offenders. The Commission is following very closely the human rights situation in China and shares the concern expressed by the Honourable Member.

The Union is committed to the promotion of human rights world-wide. They represent a central issue in the Union's relations with third countries. In the framework of the Union-China human rights dialogue, the Union has regularly raised individual cases with the Chinese authorities and will continue to do so.

The EU-China human rights dialogue, and the co-operation projects which support the dialogue, is the Union's preferred channel for helping to improve the human rights situation in China. Issues of concern are raised in meetings with China at all levels, including at the highest level. The Union's concerns about the human rights situation in China were therefore also raised at the fourth EU-China Summit meeting on 5 September 2001.

The Commission will closely follow developments concerning the human rights situation in China and will continue to raise individual cases with the Chinese authorities.