Vol. 474 No. 5
7 Mr. Briscoe and Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) a Tibetan musician, sentenced to 18 years imprisonment by the Chinese authorities on 26 December 1996; and the steps, if any, being taken by the Government in its capacity as a member of the EU Troika to address this issue and the wider abuse of human rights occurring in Tibet. [3227/97]
I am aware of this case which involves the Tibetan musician, Mr. Ngawang Choephel, who was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment on 26 December 1996 on charges of espionage.
I am particularly concerned about the case because, according to all available information, the musician was on a cultural and not on a political mission when arrested. In addition, the precise nature of the espionage charges against him is not known and the sentence is very long. Ireland has supported the idea of the EU making representations on behalf of Mr. Choephel to the Chinese authorities.
The Deputy will be aware from previous replies and statements that the Governments' concern at the human rights situation in China has been raised at every appropriate opportunity with the Chinese authorities, including my last meeting with the Chinese Vice Premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Qian Qichen, on 23 September 1996 when I led the EU ministerial Troika at a meeting in New York.
As a member of the EU ministerial Troika I will meet the Chinese Vice Premier in Singapore on 14 February en marge of the EU-ASEAN/ ASEM meetings. The issue of human rights in China will be taken up with the Vice Premier at that time.
I raise the case of the musician in the context of highlighting the appalling human rights record of the Chinese in their treatment of the Tibetan people. Will the Minister outline the progress, if any, made under our Presidency and the EU Troika in ensuring support for a resolution on China at the UN Commission on Human Rights and the steps, if any, taken by the Government to ensure such a resolution is introduced at the next session of the commission in March-April 1997? Despite the size and importance of the Chinese market to America, Europe and the world generally, a stand has to be taken by Europe and the UN in relation to the human rights record of the Chinese in the treatment of their own people but, in a special way, in the treatment of Tibetan people.
Representations will be made to seek the release of Mr. Ngawang Choephel on humanitarian grounds given that according to all the information available to us he was on a cultural rather than a political mission. The Government's concern with human rights issues in China was raised at every appropriate opportunity with the Chinese authorities during the Irish Presidency. I led the EU ministerial Troika at a meeting in New York and used the opportunity to pursue again the question of human rights which I had raised consistently at previous meetings with the Vice Premier. The European Union has continually urged China to implement legislation and other positive measures in the human rights field, particularly the early accession to and ratification of international covenants on civil and political rights and on economic and cultural rights. We will do everything we can.
The issue of human rights in Tibet has consistently been raised by the European Union in its traditional draft resolution on human rights in China. A "no action" resolution tabled by China has prevented the commission from having any discussion on the matter, with the exception of 1995 when the resolution reached the floor of the commission where it was defeated by one vote. At all other times China has succeeded in having the "no action" resolution adopted. The EU is currently deciding its approach to this issue and if a resolution on China is tabled Ireland will seek to have elements relating to the issue of human rights in Tibet highlighted also which would be timely on this occasion.
