5 April, Geneva - The Democratici di Sinistra (The Democratic Left Party) of Italy today issued the following statement in the name of Mr. Walter Veltroni, the Secretary General of the party calling upon the Italian government and the European Union to the support the China resolution to be tabled next week by the United Sates of America.

"DEMOCRATICI DI SINISTRA
Press Office
Communication of April 5th , 2000

HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA: DECLARATION BY WALTER VELTRONI

On March 20th, in Geneva, the 56th United Nations Commission on Human Rights began its work. Over the past few years the United States has presented resolutions condemning the People's Republic of China for violations of human rights.

The countries in the European Union have always declared they would back such a resolution if it received the support needed to be discussed and put on the slate. But they did not back the request, which consequently was never discussed.

This year China has continued to take giant steps on the plane of a free market and liberalized economy, but unfortunately the situation of violated political and civil rights has perceptibly worsened. Members of the Democratic Party are persecuted and imprisoned without due process.

According to the International Work Confederation (of which Italy's CISL and CGIL are a part), there are hundreds of cases of union leaders and workers imprisoned for having defended their rights or tried to organize free unions. Religious freedom remains on paper and this year the FALUN GONG, a religious group numbering millions of Chinese citizens, was outlawed.

The condition of Catholics faithful to the Church of Rome has not improved.

The most dramatic situation is still that of Tibet, where Amnesty International calculates that about 800 people are in prison for crimes of opinion. Some are in prison solely for having displayed photos of the Dalai Lama in temples or private homes.

The most emblematic case is that of CHOEKYI NYIMA, a ten-year-old child recognized by the Dalai Lama as Tibet's second-ranking spiritual authority, who disappeared with his family in 1995.

In the light of these facts, and given that the work of the UN session on human rights is underway, we feel that the Italian government should take a courageous stance, searching for support within the European Union and backing the resolution that the United States will present. Attempting constructive and profitable dialogue with the People's Republic of China, encouraging its opening and inclusion within the international community, must not shut our eyes to its violations of human rights.

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