ICT protests over China's election

Dharamsala, May 10 (UNI) The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), one of the largest support groups for the cause of Tibet and Tibetans, has expressed disappoinment over China's election to the UN's new Human Rights Council despite calls to reject its candidacy.

China has secured 146 of about 191 votes, which has placed it as the eighth Asian state to be elected.

In a statement, Ms Tsering Jampa, Executive Director of the ICT, said, ''We are disappointed to see that so many member states have turned a blind eye to China's human rights violations in Tibet. But China's election also comes with obligations and ICT will continue to ensure that China does not get a free ride at the UN. We are already looking ahead to the Universal Review that China must undergo as a Council member.'' The elections, which took place by secret-ballot at the UN General Assembly in New York, determine the inaugural members of the new Council, who will meet for the first time in Geneva, Switzerland on 19 June, ICT sources said.

LAst month, the International Campaign for Tibet stated China had yet to ''deliver a compelling reason for any UN member to overlook its abysmal human rights record and vote for China at the new UN Human Rights Council.'' The ICT, NGOs as well as many governmental organisations of the international community, had consistently documented human rights abuses against Tibetans under Chinese rule. The UN had also frequently acted upon these reports and called on China to cooperate with the UN or halt the violations.

Recently, Human Rights Watch and the Geneva-based UN monitor UN Watch had warned UN member states against China's candidacy, saying that abusers of human rights were ''unfit'' to sit on the Council, the ICT claimed.

UNI XC HS KN1745