Brussels, 04/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - On the fifteenth anniversary of the Tianmen Square massacre, the co-chairs of the Green/EFA group of the European Parliament have stated in a communication that China is continuing to suppress freedom of expression. Any reference to the events of 4 June 1989 is forbidden, and although Beijing was chosen to host the 2008 Olympic Games with the proviso that conditions improve for the independent media, there has been no progress in that area, seethed Daniel Cohn-Bendit. Recalling that Hong Kong was considered to be a test-case for the willingness of China to democratise, it must be said that the “democratic enclaves” in Hong Kong are shrinking. And he insists that there is no reason for the EU to lift its embargo on arms sales to China.
Monica Frassoni is shocked to note that “even in Europe, the Chinese authorities succeed in silencing the voices of the independent Chinese media”. She cites the case of Eutelsat, “on of the most prestigious European telecommunications companies”, which has established itself in Paris and which announced last week that it would have to cease broadcasts from its W-5 satellite to China, apparently under pressure from the French government, among others. The satellite in question is the only one to allow broad coverage of Chinese territories, Ms Frassoni said, adding that Eutelsat, which benefits from EU research and development programmes, should respect the “highest standards of freedom of expression”.