Protesters Mark the 63rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
10 December 2011
Protesters from Chinese, Uyghur and Tibetan Solidarity UK and
activists gathered outside the Chinese Embassy in London to mark the
63rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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PRESS RELEASE
Chinese, Uyghur & Tibetan
Solidarity UK
Chinese, Uyghur &
Tibetan Solidarity UK calls for human rights, democracy and freedom for all
those living under Chinese Communist Party rule
[10 December 2011] Today,
on Human Rights Day, Chinese, Uyghur Tibetan Solidarity UK is calling on the
Chinese government to “clean up its act” and implement human rights, freedom
and democracy, basic principles which should be afforded every person. To show
its sincerity in its claims of respecting human rights, the Chinese government
should immediately release all prisoners of conscience.
Chinese, Uyghur Tibetan
Solidarity UK is also calling upon world leaders to “make human rights a top
priority” when dealing with the Chinese leadership, and calls upon the international
community to demand real democracy in the People’s Republic of China, as the
Chinese Communist Party does not truly represent those living under its rule.
A vigil is being held
outside the Chinese Embassy today, where nine prisoner of conscience cases will
be highlighted, representing the thousands of Chinese, Uyghurs and Tibetans who
have been imprisoned for expressing or defending human rights. The nine cases
are:
• Gao Zhisheng: Chinese lawyer,
forcibly disappeared for defending religious practitioners.
• Ni Yulan: Chinese lawyer,
disabled for advocating house rights, arrested with husband, awaiting trial for
‘creating a disturbance’.
• Liu Xiaobo: Chinese writer, 11-year
sentence for drafting Charter 08, wife under house arrest.
• Gulmira Imin: Uyghur website
moderator, life sentence for ‘splittism, leaking state secrets, and organizing
an illegal demonstration’ after the 5 July protest in 2009.
• Mehbube Ablesh: Uyghur media worker,
3-year sentence on a charge of ‘inciting splittism’ for criticizing Chinese
government policies.
• Memetjan Abdulla: Uyghur journalist, life
sentence for reposting information on Uyghur protests.
• Dhondup Wangchen: Tibetan film-maker,
6-year sentence for documenting the views of ordinary Tibetan people (which
became the documentary Leaving Fear Behind).
• Norzin Wangmo: Tibetan civil servant,
5-year sentence for sending information on protests via internet and phone.
• Tenzin Delek Rinpoche: Tibetan religious and
community leader, life sentence for ‘splittism’ following closed trial and no
evidence.
Chinese, Uyghur &
Tibetan Solidarity UK is also sending letters to the Chinese Ambassador to the
UK and Prime Minister David Cameron, based on the demands and recommended
actions in its statement (which can be read in full below).
For further details
contact:
Paul Golding: 07984 799
958, [email protected]
Available for
interview:
Shao Jiang (Chinese):
07961 948 852
Karma Chura-Tsang
(Tibetan): 07725 501 995
Enver Tohti (Uyghur):
07950 674 306
Human Rights Day
Statement from Chinese, Uyghur & Tibetan Solidarity UK
[10 December 2011] On the
occasion of Human Rights Day 2011, Chinese, Uyghur & Tibetan Solidarity UK
calls upon the Chinese government to ‘clean up its act’, by adhering to
international standards on human rights, respecting freedom for all the people
under its rule and undertaking real democracy to allow true representation of the
people’s wishes.
The Chinese government
regularly states that they promote human rights and have increased freedoms for
the people it governs. However, all the evidence indicates the opposite is
true. Whilst the Communist Party spouts rhetoric about increased economic
prosperity for all its citizens, ethnic minority rights and freedom of
religion, the reality on the ground shows increasing disparity between rural
and urban communities, increasing oppression in Tibetan and Uyghur regions and
severe restrictions on religious activities.
Armed forces are
routinely deployed throughout the People’s Republic of China to quell protests
and silence those who dare to speak out. Despite such oppression, protests have
continued throughout 2011. In Tibet the oppression has reached breaking point
with 12 Tibetan monks and nuns this year having self-immolated in protest
against the repressive policies and to highlight the desperate situation to the
outside world.
The arrest of Ai Weiwei
earlier this year brought to the world's attention the lengths the Chinese
government will go to silence its critics. Though Ai Weiwei has since gained a
limited freedom, thousands of other prisoners of conscience remain in prison.
They face torture and inhumane treatment on a daily basis simply for speaking
out against occupation, oppression and human rights violations. Writers,
bloggers, lawyers and journalists are routinely detained for questioning
Chinese government policies. Countless citizens are arbitrarily arrested or
forcibly disappeared after defending human rights or for simply being
associated with a human rights defender.
Today, on Human Rights
Day, Chinese, Uyghur and Tibetan Solidarity UK:
• calls on the Chinese
government to adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to ratify
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to change its
domestic laws to conform with the standards established therein,
• demands the release
all prisoners of conscience held by the Chinese government,
• urges the Chinese
government to allow independent observers and the international media full and
unhindered access to all parts of the People’s Republic of China, in particular
Tibetan and Uyghur regions,
• calls on the European
Union to refer the human rights situation in China to the European Court of
Human Rights,
• calls on governments
and leaders around the world to make human rights a top priority when engaging
with the Chinese leadership, and publicly state their solidarity with human
rights defenders and the Chinese, Uyghur and Tibetan peoples,
• urges the
international community to demand democracy in China, as the Chinese Communist
Party does not represent the people living under its rule.
Chinese, Uyghur &
Tibetan Solidarity UK
10 December 2011
Chinese, Uyghur &
Tibetan Solidarity UK opposes the tyrannical rule of the Chinese Communist
Party and upholds the values of freedom, human rights and democracy.
Chinese, Uyghur &
Tibetan Solidarity UK is made up of the following organisations: Chinese
Solidarity Campaign, Federation for Democratic China, Friends of Tiananmen
Mothers, Students for a Free Tibet UK, Tibetan Community in Britain, Tibet
Society, Tibetan Youth UK, Uyghur Association and Uyghur Community UK.
More information: CUTS UK
on facebook – search for Chinese, Uyghur & Tibetan Solidarity UK, or email [email protected]
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Media:
New Tang Dynasty Television in Chinese
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