Beijing: China politely declined UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet”s call for a “meaningful access” to verify the “serious” reports of human rights violations in the restive region of Xinjiang, saying she is welcome for a “friendly visit” but not to pursue a probe with “presumption of guilt”.
The US and the EU besides many other countries have accused China of committing genocide against the minority Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang and called for an international probe by human rights groups.
In her address to the 47th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Bachelet said, “I continue to discuss with China modalities for a visit, including meaningful access, to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and hope this can be achieved this year, particularly as reports of serious human rights violations continue to emerge.”
China has been vehemently refuting allegations of interning millions of Uyghurs in mass detention camps, which were officially termed as education camps, in a bid to wean them away from religious extremism.
“This visit should be a friendly visit with the aim of promoting bilateral exchanges and cooperation rather than to pursue a so-called investigation with the presumption of guilt”, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in a media briefing.
Without directly naming the US and EU, which are pressing for a probe into the allegations of genocide against Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, Zhao said some countries are spreading “lies and misinformation” on Xinjiang to smear China and contain China’s development.
