Major western powers raise Tibet at UN Human Rights Council/ENG

2012. március 14./Phayul.com/TIbetPress

http://phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=31065&article=Major+western+powers+raise+Tibet+at+UN+Human+Rights+Council

With confirmed reports of yet another fiery protest in Tibet earlier today, taking the toll of self-immolations to 28, major western countries have expressed serious concerns over the situation inside Tibet at the ongoing UN Human Rights Council 19th Session in Geneva.

The European Union, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Czech and United States spoke about the current human rights situation in Tibet during their three minutes oral statement under item 4: Human Rights situations that requires the Council’s attention.

The EU said that it was “alarmed” by recent reports about the “violent suppression of protests” in Tibet, which led to “many injured and several fatalities.”

The EU delegation called on China to allow Tibetans to exercise their cultural and religious rights without hindrance while urging Beijing to refrain from using force against peaceful protest.

The EU also called for the unconditional release of all those imprisoned and detained solely for the peacefully exercising their basic rights, such as the freedom of expression, assembly, association and religion.

The delegation from Germany voiced support to the statement by EU while France expressed “grave concern” over the self-immolations of “many young Tibetans.”

The United Kingdom called on China to safeguard civil, political and cultural rights of all its citizens and said that it was concerned by the “violent suppression” of protest in Tibet.

The Czech Republic went on to reiterate its call for “unhindered access” to Tibetan areas for international monitoring.

The US urged the Chinese government to reassess policies that they said “undermined” Tibetan and Uighur linguistic, religious, and cultural traditions. The US said that Chinese repressive policies in Tibet were creating “grievances and fostering unrest.”

Diplomats and government officials from 70 countries are attending the 19th session of the Human Rights Council that will conclude on March 23.