Nov 10, 2019

UNPO ANNOUNCES CONFERENCE IN BERLIN TO DISCUSS IMPACTS OF CHINA'S BRI ON MINORITY RIGHTS WORLDWIDE


On 11 December 2019. the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), in partnership with the Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC),  will hold a conference in Berlin to discuss how China’s infra-structure developments in Balochistan and Xinjiang are directly connected to the escalation of violent campaigns against these region’s local populations. The event takes place in Germany, at a time when the resurgence of the port of Duisburg, considered now China's gateway to Europe, raises questions on whether European countries and companies are potentially complicit with China's human rights violations.

China’s BRI and its Impacts on Minority Rights: the German Response

11 December 2019 | 15:00 - 16:30

Seminar-mit-Spreeblick | An der Schillingbrücke 4 1024, Berlin

 

UNPO upcoming report examines the nexus between China’s developments of sea and land ports in Xinjiang (China), Balochistan (Pakistan) and Duisburg (Germany) with the sharp escalation of state violence targeting unrepresented peoples. Domestically, China uses high-tech surveillance, arbitrary detention and cultural assimilation of its Muslim minorities to advance the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)  and contain dissent. Abroad, through its enormous political and economic leverage, Beijing counts with the support of partner countries such as Pakistan to expand its global strategy, triggering heavy militarization and a violent crackdown campaign against peaceful protesters in Gilgit-Baltistan, Sindhi and Balochistan.

Cutting through the UN-declared disputed territory of Gilgit-Baltistan, CPEC reaches its ultimate objective in Gwadar, where China oversees the expansion of the deep-water sea port in Gwadar. The project is currently being implemented without addressing the pre-existing conflict in the region, causing the increased alienation and resentment of the local people, who are subject to gross human rights violations perpetrated by Pakistani military.

In Xinjiang, while China advances the development of the Urumqi International Land Port, the largest arbitrary detention of a single ethnic group since the Second World War takes place. Positioned at the very heart of the so-called ‘Chinese dream’, Xinjiang has been the stage of Beijing’s cruel campaign against the Muslim Uyghur population.

In Duisburg, Germany, the largest inland port in the world is now considered China's gateway to Europe. By facilitating Chinese goods, companies and infrastructure while broad evidence of gross human rights violations in the production and supply emerge, UNPO raises questions about potential complicity of European countries and companies trading with China.

The event will bring together academics and NGOs with local think tanks and staff members of the Bundestag. Participation is open to all. 

 

To register for the event, send an email with your name and organisation to [email protected]