Debate from the Irish Parliament Focuses on the Human Rights of Falun Gong Practitioners

Mr. Sargent, Leader of the Irish Green Party: "On the topic of human rights it is appropriate and essential that we question also the record of China. What exactly did the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) say to Mr. Wen Jiabao, the Chinese Prime Minister, during his visit to Ireland? Amnesty International reports that each year between 1997 and 2001 the Chinese Government has executed 15,000 people, judicially or ex-judicially but 69% of capital crimes as defined in China's criminal law are defined as non-violent.

Is the Taoiseach mindful of the many followers of the Falun Gong in Ireland who are being persecuted for religious reasons? As one practitioner said at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas (Government) Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sub-Committee on Human Rights, China tortures and kills followers of Falun Gong as the ancient Romans tortured and killed Christians. Is the Taoiseach aware of the various methods used to persecute the Falun Gong in China: rape, gang rape, throwing stripped female practitioners into male prison cells, using electric batons to shock practitioners' sensitive body parts, imprisonment in water cells where the practitioners are immersed in dirty water with no light, stretching and tying practitioners' limbs to the four corners of a metal bed? I could go on had I the time. Did the Taoiseach condemn human rights abuses in China when he met the Chinese Prime Minister and did he mention Tibet, which has asked that the Irish Presidency establish an EU ambassador to Tibet given that it is illegally occupied? What exactly did he say to the Chinese Prime Minister?"

The Taoiseach (Mr. Bertie Ahearn, Prime Minister): "I raised both issues and several other issues last night in a two hour meeting with the Chinese Premier, Mr. Wen. Deputy Mr Sargent knows that the Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and I have lobbied hard to secure the release of Falun Gong members who had been here for some time as students and suffered severely under the regime, and that our diplomatic efforts were successful. I have met members of Falun Gong several times and am well aware of what they have said. Last night I endeavoured to follow the recent EU line, which has tried to encourage the Chinese to engage in the process rather than be in denial and to reach an understanding on how these activities can be eliminated in some of the twenty-three regions where the problem is particularly bad. I stressed, as did many of my EU colleagues in this five country visit, how we believe that the Chinese authorities can achieve this. I emphasised the importance for China of this issue and some other areas, if it wants to make progress and with the EU and other regions, which it is doing.

I emphasised the importance of China making progress in some of the other areas, which they are doing and want to do. This is an issue on which they have to work with the European Union, not to mind other places in the world. This has been the case, even from the time I met Premier Zhu Rongji. They realise this and are making efforts to open up, move on and co-operate with other bodies. It is the view of Amnesty International and others that we will make no progress if we continue to lecture them without trying to engage with them. Last night I emphasised what I believe the EU strategy on human rights and the dialogue on this between the European Union and China can do to enhance their position. It has already helped them to get membership of the WTO. They are also interested in a number of other issues. I only raised the issue of Tibet briefly yesterday because it was raised in the Troika meeting last March where some progress was made on it. They have agreed a process on Tibet. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Brian Cowen, has been particularly active on that during our Presidency, in the Troika in March and since then. Premier Wen Jiabao informed me last night that they would engage in the EU human rights dialogue in a constructive and meaningful way. We will have to see if that happens, but that was what he stated last night and I have to accept that they will do it. He also said that to the other five European leaders he met over the past week."