China Terminates US Resolution on Human Rights
Dharamsala, 17 April: In what was seen as a display of China’s power and influence in global politics, a resolution on human rights situation in China at the 60th session of the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights (UNHCHR) in Geneva was turned down.
The resolution (E/CN.4/2004/L.37) was proposed by the United States of America. China called for “No-Action Motion” to which voting by all the 53 member states of UN was carried out. The voting on China’s No-Action Motion saw 28 votes in favour, 16 oppositions and nine abstentions.
Eleven resolutions on China were tabled at the annual meetings of the UNCHR since 1990 and all had to succumb to China’s strong influence in the world body for human rights. China’s No-Action Motion against a similar resolution at the 51st commission of UNCHR resulted in a tie but the resolution itself was later defeated by one vote.
This year, out of total 53 UN member states that participated in the voting, 28 member states were new. The results of votings since 1990 shows a pattern of favour over resolutions from the North American States and European States, and declining support from Asia Pacific Regions and African States, and neutrality adopted by majority of the Latin American and Caribbean States.
A Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy expressed its dismay over the ‘rejection of a resolution’ in a press release issued yesterday.
While an air of disappointment over the success of China’s ‘No Action Motion’ is apparent among the Non Governmental Organisations here, the Central Tibetan Administration which awaits China’s nod to its request of ‘beginning the actual process of negotiations’ did not comment on the matter.
Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the Kalon Tripa, had said a day before the voting for ‘No Action Motion’ that his administration had neither initiated the resolution nor made any efforts to include ‘Tibet’ in the resolution proposed by the United States. But, he continued, there is no denying of the fact that there are violations of human rights in many areas of China including Tibet.
Asked if China would use the resolution as an excuse of not accepting Dharamsala’s request, the first democratically elected leader of the Tibetan people, said that the possibility can not be ruled out.