The European Parliament Vice-President for democracy and human rights urged MEPs to stand firm against China’s continued human rights abuses. Addressing the committee on Human Rights in Brussels on Apr. 7, 2010, Edward McMillan-Scott MEP highlighted the issue of the Beijing Christian human rights lawyer Mr Gao Zhisheng, whom he befriended in 2006, and warned the Chinese authorities to “stop persecuting China’s leading civil rights campaigners.”
Commenting on an Associated Press exclusive interview with Gao Zhisheng, the first since Gao resurfaced two weeks ago after having disappeared 14 months ago, McMillan-Scott stated: “Whilst it is a relief to have evidence that Gao is still alive, I remain very concerned about the current conditions of his supposed freedom. The international community demands that Gao should be free to join his family in the United States.”
McMillan-Scott warned the Beijing regime "you must prove beyond doubt that Gao is free - otherwise China will face growing international condemnation that would overshadow the opening next month of the Shanghai World Expo.
“In spite of today’s interview with Gao and his brother’s statement to the BBC I am not convinced of Gao’s wellbeing. We will continue to fight for Gao’s freedom and for his human right to be reunited with his family,” said McMillan-Scott.
McMillan-Scott and the chairwoman of the EP committee on Human Rights, Heidi Hautala MEP, have written to Baroness Ashton (EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security), Professor Jerzy Buzek (President of the European Parliament) and Ban Ki-moon (Secretary-General of the UN) calling for a joint approach to the Beijing authorites to prove beyond doubt that Gao Zhisheng is finally free. As China prepares for the Shanghai World Expo, these two senior MEPs highlight the importance of businesses doing trade with China of the UN Global Compact which more than 4,000 companies have signed up to.
McMillan-Scott concluded: “In the European Parliament we will continue to oppose human rights abuses in China.”
Commenting on an Associated Press exclusive interview with Gao Zhisheng, the first since Gao resurfaced two weeks ago after having disappeared 14 months ago, McMillan-Scott stated: “Whilst it is a relief to have evidence that Gao is still alive, I remain very concerned about the current conditions of his supposed freedom. The international community demands that Gao should be free to join his family in the United States.”
McMillan-Scott warned the Beijing regime "you must prove beyond doubt that Gao is free - otherwise China will face growing international condemnation that would overshadow the opening next month of the Shanghai World Expo.
“In spite of today’s interview with Gao and his brother’s statement to the BBC I am not convinced of Gao’s wellbeing. We will continue to fight for Gao’s freedom and for his human right to be reunited with his family,” said McMillan-Scott.
McMillan-Scott and the chairwoman of the EP committee on Human Rights, Heidi Hautala MEP, have written to Baroness Ashton (EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security), Professor Jerzy Buzek (President of the European Parliament) and Ban Ki-moon (Secretary-General of the UN) calling for a joint approach to the Beijing authorites to prove beyond doubt that Gao Zhisheng is finally free. As China prepares for the Shanghai World Expo, these two senior MEPs highlight the importance of businesses doing trade with China of the UN Global Compact which more than 4,000 companies have signed up to.
McMillan-Scott concluded: “In the European Parliament we will continue to oppose human rights abuses in China.”
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