The European Parliament adopted by 104 votes to 1 with 3 abstentions a resolution on Tibet, the case of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche.

The resolution had been tabled by the Greens/ALE, PES, GUE/NGL, ALDE, EPP-ED, and UEN groups.

It notes that on 2 December 2002 the Kardze (Ganzi) Intermediate People's Court in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province sentenced Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, an influential Buddhist lama, to death, suspended for two years, and his attendant, Lobsang Dhondup, was executed on 26 January 2003, in both cases for alleged political offences. Parliament reiterates its call for the abolition of the death penalty, calls for an immediate moratorium on capital punishment in China and urges the Chinese authorities to immediately commute the death sentence handed down to Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. It strongly condemns the execution of Lobsang Dhondup on 26 January 2003.

The Chinese authorities are urged to guarantee that Tenzin Delek Rinpoche will not be ill-treated in detention, and to do all in their power to establish that international human rights and humanitarian law standards are being respected and, in particular, to guarantee internationally recognised legal proceedings for persons arrested.

The resolution calls on the European Union and its Member States to urge the Government of the People's Republic of China to respect the religious rights and freedom of the Tibetan people. It calls on the Council and the Member States to maintain the EU embargo on trade in arms with the People's Republic of China and not to weaken the existing national limitations on such arms sales. Members consider that this embargo should be maintained until such time as the EU has adopted a legally binding Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and the People's Republic of China has taken concrete steps towards improving the human rights situation in that country.

Parliament calls on the Chinese Government to step up the ongoing dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama with the aim of reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of Tibet without further delay. It reiterates, in this respect, its call to the Council to appoint an EU Special Representative for Tibetan Affairs so as to contribute effectively to the peaceful resolution of this issue.

The European Parliament adopted by 104 votes to 1 with 3 abstentions a resolution on Tibet, the case of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche.

The resolution had been tabled by the Greens/ALE, PES, GUE/NGL, ALDE, EPP-ED, and UEN groups.

It notes that on 2 December 2002 the Kardze (Ganzi) Intermediate People's Court in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province sentenced Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, an influential Buddhist lama, to death, suspended for two years, and his attendant, Lobsang Dhondup, was executed on 26 January 2003, in both cases for alleged political offences. Parliament reiterates its call for the abolition of the death penalty, calls for an immediate moratorium on capital punishment in China and urges the Chinese authorities to immediately commute the death sentence handed down to Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. It strongly condemns the execution of Lobsang Dhondup on 26 January 2003.

The Chinese authorities are urged to guarantee that Tenzin Delek Rinpoche will not be ill-treated in detention, and to do all in their power to establish that international human rights and humanitarian law standards are being respected and, in particular, to guarantee internationally recognised legal proceedings for persons arrested.

The resolution calls on the European Union and its Member States to urge the Government of the People's Republic of China to respect the religious rights and freedom of the Tibetan people. It calls on the Council and the Member States to maintain the EU embargo on trade in arms with the People's Republic of China and not to weaken the existing national limitations on such arms sales. Members consider that this embargo should be maintained until such time as the EU has adopted a legally binding Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and the People's Republic of China has taken concrete steps towards improving the human rights situation in that country.

Parliament calls on the Chinese Government to step up the ongoing dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama with the aim of reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of Tibet without further delay. It reiterates, in this respect, its call to the Council to appoint an EU Special Representative for Tibetan Affairs so as to contribute effectively to the peaceful resolution of this issue.