Arrest of the Chinese human rights defender Hu Jia

Tabled by Hélène Flautre, Helga Trüpel, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Milan Horá?ek, Eva Lichtenberger

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the human rights situation in China with regard, in particular, to the one of 13 December 2007,

- having regard to the latest two rounds of the EU-China Dialogue on Human Rights held in Beijing on 17 October 2007 and in Berlin on 15-16 May 2007,

- having regard to the public hearing held on 26 November 2007 by its Subcommittee on Human Rights on Human Rights in China in the run-up to the Olympics,

- having regard to the UN Olympic Truce as passed by the UN General Assembly on 31 October 2007 inviting UN member states to observe and promote peace during the Olympic games, 

- having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the human rights defender Hu Jia was taken away by police at his home in Beijing on 27 December 2007 on suspicion of inciting subversion of state power,

B. whereas Hu Jia and his wife, Zeng Jinyan, have thrown the spotlight on human rights abuses in China and spent many periods under house arrest over the past few years because of their campaigning; whereas Hu Jia has been victim of constant harassments due to his human rights activities,

C. whereas Hu Jia is in bad health conditions suffering from a liver disease that obliges him to take medication,

D. whereas on 26 November 2007 Hu Jia was invited to speak to the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights and reported by phone under house arrest from Beijing about the situation of human rights in China,

E. whereas Hu Jia and Zeng Jinyan were 2007 Sakharov Prize nominees,

F. whereas 57 intellectuals from China published an open letter and called for the immediate release of Hu Jia,

G. whereas the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will draw the world attention to the situation of human rights in China and constitute, therefore, an occasion for this country to improve substantially its poor human rights record, 

1. Expresses its deepest concern about Hu Jian's arbitrary detention, which takes place in the context of a violent wave of repression and increased political persecution against Chinese human rights defenders related to the Olympics;

2. Calls on Chinese authorities to release him immediately since his detention is arbitrary and is merely aimed at sanctioning his human rights activities, to put an end to any acts of harassment against Hu and his family and to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Hu and his relatives;

3. Urges China to ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by the People's Republic of China;

4. Reiterates its opinion that human rights concerns should receive much more focus in the build-up to the Beijing Olympic Games and the need for "respect for universal fundamental ethical principles" and the promotion of a peaceful society concerned "with the preservation of human dignity" as enshrined in Articles 1 and 2 of the Olympic Charter;

5. Expresses its deep concern at the sale of high tech security equipment by Western firms to the Chinese authorities aimed at stepping up security conditions during the Olympic games but that could also be used to clamp down on human rights campaigners and pro-democracy groups;

6. Calls on the Council and the Commission to raise firmly this issue with the Chinese authorities and to address thoroughly human rights matters at the next EU-China summit;  

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, the governments and the parliaments of the Member States, the President and Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China and the Standing Committee of the People's National Congress and the International Olympic Committee.