Brussels, 12/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - Around ten representatives from the opposition groups against the dictators from several countries in Asia took part in the launch of the "Asia-Democracy Forum", on Wednesday in the European Parliament in Brussels. This Forum, gathering European citizens and dissidents or exiles from undemocratic Asian countries, set itself three initial objectives, explained the member of the European Parliament from the Lista Bonino Olivier Dupuis: work for the EU to co-finance the creation of media targeted at the undemocratic countries, set-up instruments to simplify contacts between the press and dissidents and organise, next autumn in Brussels, a "States General: of the movements for democracy in Asia, who will specify the forum's priorities.
Stigmatising the lamentable failure of the critical dialogue lead by the Europeans with the countries concerned, the Vietnamese dissident Vo Tran Naht called on the EU to finance projects that have a real effect on democracy, such as the development of an independent television or radio on the model of Radio Free Asia financed by the United States. He felt that by financing, for example, the release of a few examples of a translation of the human rights declaration, the EU rapidly gives itself a good conscience. For the Laosian Vanida Thephsouvanh, the EU should be firmer to ensure respect for the principals of democracy outlined in the cooperation agreements. One week after the signing of the EU/Laos cooperation agreement, the Laos government stated that human rights constitute an internal affair, she underlined when also recalling that five leaders from the opposition have been arrested since 26 October 1999. It is surprising that the EU pays EUR 60 to 70 million to support the elections in certain countries, but does nothing to support the development of democratic movements, without which there can be no changeovers, revealed the Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheg, to whom the Parliament granted in 1996 the Sakharov Prize. He also called for increased support to the dissident media. Declaring himself "neither anti-Chinese, nor anti-Tibetan", the Tibetan Kunzang Chophel called on the EU to arbitrate the conflict between the Chinese authorities and Tibet, by calling for the respect of the rights to cultural and linguistic differences and a better access to education and health care. Finally Erkin Alptekin, from Eastern Turkmenistan, hoped that the forum would allow European democrats to put pressure on the EU, as "unity is strength", he recalled.