International

This week a number of MEPs from different political groups will use an official European Parliament 'political declaration' in an attempt to give teeth to their demand that the European Commission and the member state governments lend their weight to a campaign to stop the censorship of news broadcast to China. In June French satellite firm Eutelsat ceased transmission of news, some of critical of the Chinese authorities, into China by broadcaster NTDTV, ostensibly because of 'technical problems'. Though a declaration would have no binding force, it would increase pressure on the European Commission to act to stop this blatant interference with media freedom.

Harry van Bommel is urging Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen to summon the Iranian ambassador in relation to a long-lasting hunger strike currently being conducted by dozens of political prisoners in his country. “Verhagen must show that the human rights situation in Iran is something which he takes seriously,” said Van Bommel, the SP's spokesman on international affairs. “This could be achieved by telling the Iranian ambassador that the demands of these primarily political prisoners must be met.”