ICT Europe: Publications
Tibet Update: E-newsletter for Parliamentarians in Europe, Edition 5
Edition 5, July 2004
Welcome to Tibet Update: E-newsletter for Parliamentarians in Europe. This fifth edition highlights activities taken in support of Tibet by parliamentarians from the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom and Sweden. It also outlines recent Tibet initiatives made by the European Commission, in Canada and elsewhere abroad.
We hope that this E-newsletter is acting as a valuable, bimonthly source of information for you about Tibet. Please continue to send your feedback and contributions to us at euroeditor@savetibet.org. Your parliamentary colleagues can also subscribe to this E-newsletter by emailing this address. Don't forget that previous editions of the Tibet Update can be viewed here.
- International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) Europe, Amsterdam
Contents
European Initiatives
Tibet Intergroup Members Fare Well in European Parliament Elections
Results of the European Parliament elections held in June show that 17 persons from the 31-member European Parliament (EP) Intergroup for Tibet are returning to the European Parliament, including the active German MEP, Mr. Thomas Mann.
Dutch Parliament Reiterates its Call for a EU Special Representative for Tibet
Pursuant to the Dutch Parliament resolution of 18 December 2003 (encouraging the appointment of a EUSR for Tibet), the Dutch D66 party have again taken the lead in submitting a motion to the Dutch Foreign Ministry. The motion, supported by all the major parties, asks the government to report on what it has done for Tibet since the December resolution and to indicate what it plans to do for Tibet under the Dutch Presidency. The motion specifically asks: (i) for the appointment of a EUSR for Tibet; and (ii) what the Dutch Presidency will do to promote Sino-Tibetan dialogue.
French Parliamentary Group for Tibet Dedicates 2005 to Tibet; 120,000 signature petition for Panchen Lama delivered to French president
Tibet Group, the parliamentary group for Tibet in French Lower House of Parliament, in May declared 2005 the "Year of Tibet". During 2005 the group will organise various activities to promote awareness and gather support for Tibet, said Mr. Lionel Luca, the group's president and a member in the Lower House of French parliament. The group will call upon the various parliamentarians, mayors, regional authorities and TSGs to take part in its activities to dedicate the year to Tibet. He was speaking after Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government in Exile, addressed the French press on the issue of Tibet.
In June, Mr. Luca also handed over 120,000 signatures calling for the release of the Panchen Lama, Tibet's second highest spiritual leader, to French President Chirac.
European Commission encourages Sino-Tibetan Dialogue; concerned about human rights situation
In response to an outpouring of concern from European Tibet supporters, the European Commission has issued a statement expressing its concern regarding the situation of human rights in Tibet and also extending its support to the ongoing dialogue between Dharamsala and Beijing.
Dalai Lama welcomed to UK by Archbishop, Foreign Secretary and the Prince of Wales
International respect for His Holiness the Dalai Lama's moral authority was apparent during his UK visit in May when the Tibetan leader was welcomed at separate high profile engagements by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw, and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles. Literally all the three pillars of the British social structure - the spiritual, political and the monarchy - warmly welcomed his Holiness.
Swedish Parliamentarians Express Concern for Tibet
The human rights situation in Tibet was paid close attention by members of the Swedish Parliament in May when they held an inaugural seminar on "Human Rights in China". The seminar, organised by members of the Swedish Left, Green, Liberal and Christian Democrat parties, addressed the ongoing human rights violations by China in Tibet, with speakers making specific references to the torture of Tibetan monks and Falung Gong followers.
British MPs: Support Tibet Not Terror!
The visits of Wen Jiabao and the Dalai Lama to the UK in recent months have prompted much public concern and media coverage of the Tibet issue in the Kingdom. British MPs too have intensified their concerns for Tibet of late. The EDM "Dalai Lama and the Prime Minister" which called on Tony Blair to meet with the Dalai Lama or at least make a statement in support of the Dalai Lama's stance on non-violence has attracted 148 signatories - more than any other EDM in the last ten years.
EDM "China and Tibet" tabled by Kate Hoey MP in late April has already attracted 71 signatories. Being the centenary of Britain's invasion of Tibet, this EDM calls on "the Prime Minister to secure from Wen Jiabao an undertaking to drop all pre-conditions to negotiating a settlement on Tibet with representatives of the Dalai Lama and to make a public statement of his support for the Dalai Lama's non-violent approach and his concern about the situation of Tibet".
Take Action!
China should Drop All Pre-conditions to Negotiations
In recent months, China has been giving European leaders the impression it is cooperating in an effort to resolve the Tibet issue. At the same time, Beiing's white paper on Tibet released in May indicates a hardening against the Dalai Lama proposal for Tibetan autonomy. The UK Parliament's EDM "China and Tibet".Take Action:
- Support Tibet Not Terror! Write to your Foreign Minister requesting he/she make a positive statement in support of meaningful negotiations between Chinese authorities and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and acknowledges the non-violent campaign Tibetans have followed in seeking self-determination for Tibet.
Expand Tibet Intergroups across Europe
The European Parliament's expansion and elections recent months provide a unique and important opportunity for you to raise the issue of Tibet among your colleagues and constituencies.
Take Action:
- Write to the President of the European Parliament urging him to make Tibet a priority for the Parliament over the next five years;
- Mobilize incoming MEPs to join the European Parliament Tibet Intergroup;
- Urge your party to endorse the reestablishment of the EP Tibet Intergroup;
- Write to your counterparts in the new EU member states informing them of your work for Tibet and encouraging them to establish a Tibet Intergroup in their national parliament, if one does not currently exist already.
Tibet News in Brief
Beijing's white paper indicates hardening against Dalai Lama proposal for Tibetan autonomy
In May, Beijing issued a white paper on Tibet, "The Regional Ethnic Autonomy in Tibet", which appears to indicate a hardening against the Dalai Lama's proposal for internal self-rule. The proposal, first made in 1984, relinquishes the aim of independence and instead proposes effective internal self-rule within China.
>> Read the full text of the white paper
Chinese Authorities Institute Internet ID Card System in Tibet for Online Surveillance
A new Internet surveillance system was instituted in Lhasa in 2003 requiring residents to use an individual registration number and an associated password in order to access the Internet via Internet Explorer or other portals or to send and receive email at public cyber cafes. This is the latest known information monitoring step for computer users that the Chinese government has taken in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and is unique because it is imposed on the individual users and not imbedded in the computer system.
Kalmyk Buddhist Leader Expresses Regret at Tibetan Delegation's Attitude
The spiritual head of the Kalmykia Buddhists, Telo Rinpoche, has expressed great regret at the attitude of a delegation from the Tibet Autonomous Region after they declined to enter the main Kalmyk monastery on June 22, 2004. The delegation was on a five day visit to the republic.
Non-European Action
Canadian PM meets Dalai Lama; narrowly wins national elections
In April, Mr. Paul Martin became the first Canadian Prime Minister to meet with the Dalai Lama despite demands from China that Canadian political leaders ignore the Nobel peace prize winner. The Dalai Lama was followed by thousands of supporters during every step of his 19-day visit to Canada. During his visit, the Dalai Lama praised Canada's peaceful experience with referendums on its future and said it has set an example for the world on successful political dissent. He declared that "this century should be the century of dialogue".
Canada held national elections on June 28, 2004, resulting in Prime Minister Martin's long-standing ruling Liberal party survive one of the closest votes in Canadian electoral history. For the first time in 25 years Canada has a minority government.
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Postpones China Visit
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the question of Torture, Mr. Theo van Boven, announced on June 16, 2004 the postponement of his scheduled visit to China at the request of the Chinese Government. The visit was to begin at the end of June. China indicated that it needed additional time to prepare for the Rapporteur's two-week visit.
Dalai Lama to Meet New Indian Prime Minister
The Dalai Lama is meeting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 3, 2004 in New Delhi, their first since Singh took over the government. The Dalai Lama has been meeting successive Indian leaders ever since he fled to India in 1959.
Australian Envoy visit puts spotlight on Tibet policy
Australia's ambassador to China, Allan Thomas, began a rare visit to Tibet in July amid concern that Canberra is backing away from political and human rights issues in the restive Chinese-ruled territory.
US Commission Highlights China's Tight Control Over Tibetan Religion
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), in its annual report on the status of religious freedom worldwide, has said that the Chinese government retains tight control over religious activity and places of worship in Tibet. It has suggested that the United States establish an official presence in Lhasa "in order to monitor religious freedom and other human rights" in Tibet.
Important Dates
| 6 July: | 69th Birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama |
| 5-8 July: | The Dalai Lama attends the World Parliamentary Forum on Religion, Forum Barcelona 2004, Spain |
| end September: | EU-China Bilateral Human Rights Dialogue, Beijing |
| 14 October: | EU-India Summit, The Hague |
