The Tibet-Intergroup

61st Tibet Intergroup Meeting

Wednesday, 23 May 2007

Thomas Mann opened the meeting and introduced the journalist Ms Elisabeth Zingg, Director of the Agency France Presse (AFP) in Strasbourg and Correspondent for the Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) organisation in Alsace. Ms Zingg reported on the present situation of freedom of the Press in China. She had paid many visitis to China, in the eighties and nineties and there were many similarities between now and then. Ms Zingg explained that RSF is concerned with five main points:

1. Editorial control of the media
2. The continue imprisonment of Chines journalists
3. Internet censorship
4. Jamming of international radio stations
5. Restrictions on foreign investment in the media

The Chinese Press is allowed to speak on any subject, except certain subject that are taboo. Control of the media is very tight, and managed by the Propaganda Committee, which was recently re-named the Department for Publicity. The taboo subjects are for example, Falun Gon, Tai Wan, Tibet, Health, etc. She mentioned a lawyer who had recently spoke ourt against the Chines government and he was charged with disturbing public order and imprisoned. Newspapers and other publications were harassed and the Chines authorities imposed censorship on certain historical aspects, with the result that officials from two publications were harassed and the Chinese authorities imposed censorship on certain histroical aspects, with the result that officials from two publications were sentenced. There was another case where farmers of small plots came to Beijing to protest about conditions and were imprisoned. The law is even to be strengthened.

Journalists whe have contacts with for foreign media are also put into prison, and there are 32 journalists in prison at the moment. One journalist who contributed to the New York Times was sentenced to three years "for fraud" in 2005, and another was given 10 years for "divulging state secrets" (sending messages to foreign website). It is not allowed to speak about the events at Tian Men Square.

There ar 130 million Internet users in China but it is frequently blocked, either through the service provider or the website. It is not allowed to publish "subversive information" which can "violate the Chinese constituton", and people may be accused "seeking to overthrow the Chines government" or of "incitement to racial hatred". Any negative statements about Tibet are prohibited. It is forbidden to disseminate pornographic, violent or terrorist material.

Radio stations are monitored and jammed, despite international telecommunications laws. A French company had unfortunately been involved in using ALLISS antennas to jam programmes from the Norway-based "Voice of Tibet", the BBC World Service, the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia. Since the both the UK and USA protested but were told that there were "technical problems". Becoaus of this block, the founders of the internationa stations reduce their support, because the programmes cannot reach listeners. Recently the staff of the Chinese service of the BBC was reduced.

Dalai Lama's cancelled visit: Belgian government severely criticised

Strasbourg, 22nd May 2007. On the occasion of the plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg late yesterday evening the President of the EP's Tibet Intergroup (TIG), MEP Thomas Mann (EPP-ED) as well as TIG Member Milan Horáček MEP (Greens-EFA) criticised the quasi-enforced cancellation of the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Brussels on May 11th. Thomas Mann was shocked that Belgium thereby actively avoided a meeting between the Tibet Intergroup members and His Holiness. He urged the European Parliament to file instantly an official protest to the Belgian government: "The European Parliament is worldwide recognized as the voice of human rights and fundamental freedoms. We will not stop urging for their respect - especially not due to any kind of economic pressure." The President of the EP, Mr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, replied that he will take action in this matter in the name of the European Parliament.

Tibet Intergroup Member Milan Horáček said that the Belgian government has proofed economic opportunism by sacrificing European values. The EU and its Member states should not allow the PRC to interdict the visit of outstanding fighters for human rights like His Holiness. Chinas possibility to interfere in internal affaires of Belgium and the EU is unbelievable.

On May 11th the Dalai Lama was forced to cancel his participation in an international Tibet-conference held in Brussels, because of heavy pressure exerted on the Belgian government by the People's Republic of China. Beforehand, Belgium had been threatened that a trade mission to China planned for June and led by the Crown Prince Philippe would not be crowned with success.

The Dalai Lama as a man of peace and balance cancelled his visit to Brussels, because he wanted to maintain peace between the two countries. The audience of His Holiness for the members of the Tibet Intergroup of the EP that had been planned for a long time had to be cancelled.

Thomas Mann finally: "I had the opportunity to meet His Holiness at Leipzig on May 12th on the occasion of a ceremony where he received an award for freedom, optimism and courage. I expressed my outrage in view of the behaviour of the Belgian government."

Press Release (de)

China opens its purse for Tibet

China intends to invest 13 milliard dollars between now and 2010 to improve the infrastructures in Tibet. As a matter of comparison, over a twelve-year period up until 2005, China invested only 6.3 milliard dollars in Tibet. 180 projects are being financed; roads will link 80% of the villages on the Roof of the World. The whole population will have clean drinking water. The highest airport in the world will be built, and 300 extra kilometres will prolong the railway opened this year between Lhassa and Peking.

Other projects concern free schooling for all children, the protection of the environment, and the beginnengs of a social security and retirement pension programme. But to be honest, these benefits are not a gift, Tibet being the poorest province in the country, which invests more easily elsewhere than in these far-away mountains, difficult to access.

The State hopes for the deveolpment of tourism and also an easier exploitation of the immense mining resources of the region. It also hopes to be reconciled with Tibetans, and that they should forget the Dalai Lama. 500 Tibetans recently demonstrated near Lhassa. These investments do not convince Tibetans in exile, who sees a subtle sinisation of Tibet.

May 2007

01 May,  Nathu La to be liberalised

(PTI) The Indian Commerce Ministry has announced a liberalisation of trade with China through the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, increasing the limit of value of single consignments to Indian Rupees 100,000 (UK£ 1,222; US$ 2,419; EUR€ 1,795) from IRs 25,000 (UK£ 305; US$ 605; EUR€ 448). India and China have allowed trade through Nathu La since June 2006, but with the traders facing a number of restrictions including a limited basket of items both for exports and imports and controls on the number of hours traders can stay in each other's territory. The liberalised regime follows a report by India's National Council for Applied Economic Research, which was asked to suggest measures to boost trade through the pass. This year's trading begann on a low-key note with only 13 traders from India and 29 from the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) present.

08 May, Survey of rivers in TAR

Amid concerns in India and Bangladesh over China's plans to construct a dam on the Brahmaputra in Tibet, Chinese officials have started a survey of the Himalayan region's major rivers - Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra), Nyangchu, Lhasa (Kyichu), Niyang and Yarlung - to collect information and statistics about the water resources in these rivers. Officials from the environment and resources committee of the TAR People's Congress (local legislature) will conduct the survey "As part of a nationwide environmental protection drive, the campaign will be the longest and most wide-ranging examination of the region's use of water resources", Xinhua news agency quoted the deputy director of the standing committee of the TAR People's Congress, Luosang Toinzhub.

Tibet Conference comes up with a Roadmap for Peace in Tibet

Brussels, 14 May - The three-day 5th International Conference of Tibet Support Groups came to an end with a concise action plan covering four areas of concern: political support for negotiations, human rights, environment & development and the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing. "The action plan will galvanise the worldwide Tibet movement with new energy and enthusiasm", said Tempa Tsering, the Kalon for the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration.

The closing ceremony was addressed by Dr. h.c. Rolf Berndt, the Executive Chairman of the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung and by Mr. Sonam Phuntsok Monkhar, the Tibetan Member of Parlament elected from Europe. In his address Mr. Monkhar thanked the participants for the energy and enthusiasm they put into the conference.

The message of Betty Williams was read out. In her message, the Noble Laureate said, "Stand proud and strong, Tibetan people, for right not might is on your side. And when the governments of the so-called democratic and free world decide not to kowtow to the bullying of China's tyrannical leadership, Tibet and the people His Holiness loves so dearly may have their dream come true; the dream of a free, prosperous and peaceful Tibet."

In his vote of thanks Mr. Tempa Tsering said that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is fond of saying that in political terms the Tibet Support Groups around the world are the fourth refuge of the Tibetan people. He said that whenever the Tibetans pray they take refuge in the Buddha, the Sangha-the community of monks, and the Dharma-the teachings of the Buddha. Because of Tibet's sad political situation, the international community has thus become our fourth refuge.

The Fifth International Converence of Tibet Support Groups (TSGs) concluded today in Brussels. The international Tibet is a unique coalition of dedicated organizations and individuals who pool in their talent together to improve the human rights situation and to resolve the issue of Tibet. This time the converence brought 300 participants from 145 Tibet Support Groups and 36 Tibetan Associations from about 56 countries. The conclave alsor brought 12 Chinese supporters of the non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people.

This international gathering was convened by the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration in collaboration with Friedrich-Nauman-Stiftung, Germany, and co-hosted by the Belgian Inter-Parliamentary Group for Tibet.

The first Tibet Support Groups conference was held in Dharamsala in 1990, the second in Bonn in 1996, the third in Berlin in 2000 and the fourth Tibet Support Groups conference was held in Prague in 2003 and was inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the presence of Vaclav Havel, the former President of Czech Republic.

Fith International Conference of Tibet support Groups

Brussels, 11-14 May 2007 - Dalai Lama cancels after Chinese pressure

In a statement to be publicly released later Wednesday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said he decided not to attend a gathering of Tibetan groups in Brussels on Friday to save Belgium any trouble. The statement did not specify the pressure China exerted.

"The Belgian government shared with me their predicament on account of pressure from the People's Republic of China," the Dalai Lama's statement said. "Having considered the situation, I have decided not to visit Brussels this time." Beijing has for years mounted an aggressive lobbying campaign against the Dalai Lama, seeking to deny international legitimacy to the Nobel Peace Prize winner and undermine his enduring popularity in Chinese-controlled Tibet.

Like many European countries, Belgium is actively seeking ways to boost trade with the world's fastest-growing large economy, and Crown Prince Philippe is expected to head a 300-member trade delegation to Beijing next week. Belgium's ambassador to Beijing, Bernard Pierre, declined to confirm that Brussels had come under Chinese pressure and referred inquiries to the Belgian Foreign Ministry.

"It is indefensible that Belgium, a founding member of the European Union, should acquiesce to China in its attempts to silence the Dalai Lama, one of the world's greatest men of Peace," Mary Beth Markey of the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet said.

US Foreign affairs committee hearing on Tibet

A hearing on the question of Tibet took place before the Affairs Committee of the United States Congress on 13 March 2007 in Washington. Ms  Paula J. Dobriansky, highranking official of the State Department and Special Co-ordinator for the probleme of Tibet, referred to the state of advancement of negotiations between the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government. She considered that Tibet was part of the Popular Republic of China, but underlined the fact that the United States supported two dossiers: 1) The installation of a real dialogue between the Chinese government and his Holiness the Dalai Lama to resolve the question of Tibet; 2) The provision of help to safeguard the religion, the culture and linguistic identity of the Tibetan people.

Ms Dobriansky also referred in particular to the Tibet Policy Act, adopted by the congress in 2002, which reinforced the actions of these two dossiers. She applauded the resumption of the dialogu between representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government since 2002, and again more recently in February 2006. Despite the hopes raised by these dialogues, it had recently been noticed that the Chinese authoritis seemed to be more and more reticent, in particular by attacking directly the person of the Dalai Lama and by qualifying the Middle Way approach as a "separatist approach", which put in doubt the seriousness of the negotiations on the part of the Beijing authorities.

Moreover, the dialogue on the question of Human Rights between the Chinese government and the government of the United States of America is still suspended. Ms Dobriansky referred to the worrying situation of Human Rigths in Tibet and the Annual Report on this subject published by the State Department which denaounced the violation of Human Rigths, religious liberty, arbitrary arrests and imprisonment, torture in prisons, and increased controls on monasteries and Tibetan institutions. She also referred to the shooting at Tibetans fleeing from Tibet at the Nepalese frontier by Chinese border guards on 30 September 2006.

Ms Dobriansky also raised the question of the very high rate of illiteracy in Tibet, as well as that of malnutrition. Speaking of employment, she had observed that key posts were always held by Chinese, even if official medias spoke of 75 % of government jobs being reserved for Tibetans in the Autonomous Region of Tibet. She expressed her worries about the repercussions from the railway line inaugurated in July 2006 by President Hu Jintao. The visit of President Bush in China and his meeting with Chinese leaders was once again an occasion to speak directly on the question of Tibet and to encourage the Chinese government to invite the Dalai Lama to visit China.

Ms Dobriansky said that the American government wished China to play a responsible role on the international scene, especially because the organisation of the Olympic Games of 2008 should normally reply to certain obligations at the international level. She recognised the determination of the Dalai Lama to resolve the problems of Tibet, which have existed for a very long time. The position of the Dalai is clear and coherent; he does not seek independence, but real autonomy. In addition, the Dalai Lama legitimately represents the opinion of a large majority of Tibetans and his propositions can only result in the reinforcement of the regional and national stability of China. The United States of America hoped that the Chinese leaders would seize the opportunity to continue the dialogue with the Dalai Lama in order to resolve the question of Tibet, and above all to offer peace, prosperity and stability to future generations.

Actualités Tibétaines, no. 35 May 2007

EU-China Human Rights Dialogue

On the eve of EU-China human rights dialogue, Chinese persecution of Tibetan Buddhist culture and European role in promoting human rights in Tibet under scrutiny

ICT Press Conference in cooperation with EP Tibet Intergroup. European Parliament's ASP building, Brussels, 10 May, 9.30 am - 10.30 am

In the week prior to the next session of the European Union's dialogue with China on human rights, the International Campaign for Tibet and the President of the European Parliaments's Tibet Intergroup, Thomas Mann MEP, wiss discuss Chinese persecution of Tibetan Buddhist culture and the role of European countries in promoting human rights in Tibet. ICT will present the findings of a new report on relegious repression in Tibet. Using information from official Chinese documents obtained from Tibet and interviews with senio religious figures, monks and nuns from Tibet. ICT's new report documents the following:

Ø       Disturbing precedents for restrictions on religious practice in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Ø       A stepping up of the patriotic education campaign in religious institutions.

Ø       A commitment by Chinese authorities to strengthen the Chinese Communist Party’s control over monasteries.

Ø       A renewed determination by Chinese authorities to crack down on the influence of the Dalai Lama.

Ø       The severe undermining of traditional systems of monastic education.

Ø       Appropriation by the atheistic Chinese state of authorities necessary for the transmission of religious teachings and the identification of reincarnate lamas.

Tsering Jampa, Executive Director of ICT-Europe, said: "European countries have a vital role in pressing China on human rights, and as a matter of utmost urgency, we call on the EU to take a strong stand with Beijing in its forthcoming dialogue in order to protect Tibet's precious religious culture. The survival of Tibetan religion, an intrinsic part of Tibetan identity, is in crisis as a result of China's policies of control over religious practice and scholarship."