WRITTEN QUESTION No. 124/99 by José GARCÍA-MARGALLO Y MARFIL Civil rights
11. 10. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 289/137 (1999/C 289/179) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0091/99 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor (PPE) to the Commission (27 January 1999) Subject: Community assistance to Latin American cultural centres for Spanish expatriates In the Latin American countries there are many cultural and other centres providing a meeting point for nationals of European Union Member States, especially those from Spain and, more specifically, Galicia. In all of the different kinds of cultural and other organisations, the integration of the expatriates’ countries of origin under the EU umbrella is being followed with particular interest and attention, as can clearly be seen from the fact that whenever any prominent supporters of Europe visit these centres, they are asked for a wealth of information about the true picture of events and how Europe is changing at this historic moment. Given that they are taking such an interest in Community affairs, does the Commission believe that it should help set up a computer network as close as possible to the national organisations referred to above, thereby creating a genuine web of communication to link Community life and bodies formed by persons born or having their roots in our Member States? Answer given by M. Marín on behalf of the Commission (10 March 1999) Commision delegations exist in nearly all Latin American countries. One of their aims is to disseminate information about the Community and for this purpose they possess fully-equipped documentation centres. In Latin American countries the Commission also runs information campaigns about the development of the Community via its delegations. It usually works in cooperation with embassies of the Member States or in response to the initiatives of local or regional associations. The Commission has established a network of ‘ documentation centres’ within Latin American institutions, particularly at universities. (1999/C 289/180) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0124/99 by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (2 February 1999) Subject: Civil rights In October 1998 China signed the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial and protection against torture or arbitrary detention. The Covenant also guarantees freedom of opinion and movement, equality before the law and the presumption of innocence. Subsequent events have shown that China has not the slightest intention of abiding by the undertakings entered into. The ban on ‘meetings’ between more than two citizens in public places remains in force; trade unionists and publishers of ‘incorrect’ books continue to be imprisoned; and, according to reports from the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Buddhist monks and nuns continue to be subjected to torture. The repression has been stepped up over the past few months: at least 11 people have been arrested at their homes, according to opposition groups based in Hong Kong, and the Chinese trade union leader, Zhang Sanguang, has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. Furthermore, in October the Communist Party adopted new measures placing restrictions on the formation of NGOs, associations and any other type of group. The victims of this new wave of repression include 49 year-old Wang Ce who, up until November 1998, lived in Valencia with his two sisters, who have Spanish nationality. Wang Ce was detained on 2 November when he travelled to China to deliver to the Chinese authorities a manifesto calling for greater freedom, respect for