Today, numerous delegates of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) led by Vice-President Asgar Can and General Secretary Dolkun Isa paid a visit to the office of MEP László Tőkés in the European Parliament. The leaders of the Uyghurs, who are now living in exile, were accompanied by  officials of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO). 

The representatives of the World Congress are seeking for supporters for the Uyghurs in the European Parliament, who, just like the Tibetans, suffer from brutal Chinese oppression. It is of common knowledge that at the beginning of this month in Urumchi, capital of Xinjian Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, the Chinese authorities retailed the peaceful demonstrations of Uyghurs in bloodshed.

This same body of delegates had paid a visit to several other MEPs. Their request was that the European Parliament should assume an official standpoint and pass a resolution in which they guarantee the protection of the rights of this group of minority curtailed of their human rights and kept under oppression.

MEP László  Tőkés assured the Uyghur representatives of his sympathy and solidarity. The Uyghurs are otherwise regarded as a community in kinship with the Hungarians. In conformity with their request, MEP Tőkés immediately contacted other MEPs, previously involved, including MEP Heidi Anneli Hautala, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI).

He later wrote a letter to EP President Jerzy Buzek. Thus he wished to obtain The President’s support for after the summer recess the Uyghur issue appear on the agenda of the European Parliament. MEP Tőkés also requested the support of President Buzek for Rebiya Kadeer, Uyghur immigrant freedom-fighter may visit the Parliament during September 2009.

Brussels, 22 July 2009

Press Office of MEP László Tőkés