The Tibet-Intergroup

60th Tibet Intergroup Meeting

Wednesday, 25 April 2007

Thomas Mann opened the Meeiting and introduced a short film showing the incident at Nangpa-La, on the border between Tibet and Nepal, on 30 September 2006, when a 17 year old nun was shot dead by Chinese border guards. A mountain climber who happened to be there made the amateur video, and it showed the event in very graphic details. There was also a short conversation with a Tibetan refugee who was hiding in a tent because it was not safe to continue.

Thomas Mann then introduced Birgit van de Wijer, who has travelled extensively to Tibet and Nepal, and stayed some time at the Reception Centre in Kathmandu. She had some photos and text that the TIG could watch on her laptop.

The Nepalese authorities last year closed the original Tibetan Welfare Office in Kathmandu, the official office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, intended for those refugees who travel over the mountains in order to reach Kathmandu. Eventually it was re-opened under another name - the Tibetan Institute.

Ms de Wijer explained that the original Reception was very overcrowded as so many new refugees arrived. People slept in corridors, verandas even outside. Conditions were very primitive. Eventually refugees would travel on to other destinations in Nepal and India, but the Reception is a vital link in the chain.

Many families sent their children on their own to reach Nepal and India, and often the children arrived with bad frostbite and fingers and toes damaged. The Lutheran Church has a Centre in Kathmandu and gives a lot of support to refugees. Copies of Mrs de Wijer's book, "Child Exodus from Tibet", translated into English, were available, and it is also being translated into other languages. Another publication was available, "Dangerous Crossing: Condititons Impacting the Flight of Tibetan Refugees, 2006 Report", published by ICT.

Thomas Mann reminded the Group of the Tibetan Congress to be held at the European Parliament at its plenary session in November of this year. This Congress is open to members of National Parliaments, Tibetan Support Groups and other orgainsations. It is being supported by ICT. The Congress will be an excellent opportunity to invite Professor Samdhong Rinpotché and other members of the Tibetan Government in Exile, also perhaps representatives of the World Wildlife Organisation and other environmental agencies.

The Tibet Intergoup

The European Parliament's Tibet Intergroup was founded in 1987 by M. Michel Hervé with the intention of creating opportunities to discuss the situation in Tibet with a number and variety of MEP's. Additionally, the intergroup was created to provide information on Tibet to colleageus in the European Parliament as well as the general public. Finally, the group was to encourages various forms of political action. In 1994, the restructured under the Presidency of M. James Moorehouse and his five vice presidents.

Since 1999, the Tibet Intergroup has been lead by President Thomas Mann (PPE-ED). Following the 2004 elections, Thomas Mann has continued his Presidency with Vice Presidents; Mme. Lissy Gröner (PSE), M. Marcin LIbicki (UEN), Mme. Eva Lichtenberger (Green), M. Bill Newton Dunn (ALDE). Additionally, for the course of the Thomas Mann presidency, the secretary of the intergoup has been Mme. Gabriela Reichart, Assisstant. Gabriela works closely with the Tibetan Representatives in Europe and is the heart of the organization of important Tibet related events and the EP delegations' visits. Currently the Intergroup has respresentatives from all political parties in the Parliament.

The Intergroup Meets once a month, mainly during the Strasbourg Plenary Sessions, in order to give further details of the situation in Tibet through various activities such as:

• Initiating and participating in the first official visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the European Parliament, 24 October, 2001 and a second visit in May 2006.
• Inviting Tibetans or specialists on the question of Tibet and representatives of Tibet related NGOs.
• Organization of visits of Parliamentarian delegations of MEPs to Dharamsala in August 1998, June 1999, July 2001, and March 2006.
• Participating in the organization of major events such as for the commemoration of the anniversary of 10 March, 1959, the original date of Chinese occupation.
• Presenting the first view of Martin Scorcese's film KUNDUN during a Parliamentary Session in March 1998. The event included a press conference, exhibition and conference on Tibet, and a Buddhist Art exhibit in the Parliamentary Building.
• Organizing the creation of the first Avalokiteshvara-Sand-Mandala made in the EP by Tibetan Monks, in honour of H.H.Dalai Lama in November 2004.
• Organization of Exhibitions in the European Parliament on Tibet, its unique Culture, Religion, the life and difficulties of Tibetans in exile, and in Tibet today (1998, 2001, 2002, 2005)
• Initiating and participation in the European Parliament Conference on Tibet in Brussels in March 2000 and in November 2002.