Finland: Finnish Congress of Human Rights Commission Appeals for Attention to the Human Rights Conditions in China

On August 13th, 2005, the World Athletics Championship was heading to its final stages in the Finnish capital. A parade supporting the withdrawal of 3.6 million people from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was held in the city centre. After the parade finished, people held a rally at Esplanade Park in the city centre, which drew the attention of many citizens and tourists.

The rally of supporting the 3.6 million people who withdrew from the CCP

Finnish MP Mrs Sari Essayah gave a speech at the rally on behalf of the Finnish Congress of Human Rights Commission. As a former Finnish athlete and an MP of the host country of the World Athletics Championship, Mrs Essayah was very busy. However, in order to improve the human rights situation in China, she still managed to participate in this rally and read the statement of the Finnish Congress of Human Rights Commission.

She said that, “Recently the European Union intended to end the arms embargo on China which has applied since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. Although the initial arguments already have ceased, but we think we should not end this embargo. The European Union should revise the existing situation for arms exportation and promote a stricter policy to the member nations. No doubt a stricter policy for arms exportation can prevent the selling of weapons to those countries who abuse them for carrying out human rights violations.”

Mrs Essayah condemned the CCP’s suppression against people who have different religious pursuits. She pointed out that China is the country which carries out the most death penalties in the world and reiterated that the Finnish Congress of Human Rights Commission opposes the end of the arms embargo against China, moreover, she urges the Chinese government to improve the human rights conditions.

Mrs Essayah reads the statement of the Finnish Congress of Human Rights Commission at the rally. In addition, another two Finnish MPs also sent letters to express their support and encouragement to the rally.