The Tibet-Intergroup

Tibetian Envoys to Meet Chinese Leadership

Today and tomorrow, the Dalai Lama's special envoys Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen are to meet representatives of the Chinese government for the seventh round of talks. In a press statement published today on the website of the Tibetian exile government, they announced the meeting.

Present talks are the continuation of a process started in 2002, aiming to "contribute in resolving the long simmering issue through dialogue in the interest of stability, unity and harmony of all nationalities in the People's Republic of China. Talks are hosted in Bejing. A positive outcome could be crucial to maintaining the peace in Tibet during the Olympic games in august.

71st Meetings of the Tibet Intergroup

Wednesday, 19 June 2008

Thomas Mann opened the meeting, which was not on the usual day or time. The arrangement for future meetings is still unclear, they might even be in Brussels, or even Thursday afternoons. This was quite unacceptable. Intergroups are an essential part of the European Parliament’s work and should enjoy the right to meet at a convenient time.

Thomas then introduced Lama Jampa Phuntsok, Principal of the Srongtsen Bhrikuti Boarding High School in Kathmandu, Nepal, and Mr. Sonam Thinley, Secretary of the School. He added that he had travelled to Nepal in 2006 to look at the preparations for the election, and visited Tibetan camps in Kathmandu.

Lama Phuntsok thanked Mr. Mann for his invitation to come to the Tibet Intergroup meeting, and since his English was not so good as that of Mr Thinley, he asked him to give an explanation of the present situation in Kathmandu.

Mr. Thinley said that since 10 March this year Tibetans in Nepal have participated in several peaceful demonstrations, interrupted only during election week and again as a tribute to Chinese earthquake victims at the end of May.
But there was clear evidence of human rights violations by the Nepalese police, who use immense force. Demonstrators were brutally beaten, but since the UNHCR put pressure on the government things have slightly improved. However demonstrators are still being choked, kicked and punched by the police without journalists seeing this. One demonstrator had both legs broken. No female police were available, so female demonstrators were manhandled by the Nepalese police. These activities only served to remind Mr. Thinley of the difficult moments he has experienced as a Tibetan living in Nepal, without any basic rights and freedoms. His mother left Tibet at 16, fleeing over the Himalayan mountains to reach Nepal. He learned many beautiful poems about Tibet during his school years and often tried to picture himself in Tibet. When he met people who had been to Tibet, he wished that he would one day have the chance to sleep in his own country and touch the Tibetan soil, and promise his parents and grandparents that they would all one day go back to their home: Tibet.

With the end of the Constituent assembly elections, the Kingdom of Nepal is now declared a republican country. The ex-King has left the Royal Palace and lives as an ordinary citizen. The Maoists won in the elections and Tibetans are afraid that the situation will worsen, especially concerning Tibetan issues in Nepal. The new government is under pressure from the Chinese government regarding Tibetan issues. The government regards Tibet as an integral part of China. Each year around 3000 Tibetans escape from Tibet via Nepal. Since 1989, Nepal ceased to permit newly arriving Tibetans to remain or seek refuge in Nepal. Thos Tibetans who arrived before 1989 were given a Refugee card, but this means only a permit to reside in Nepal. One cannot own property or a business. Travelling is restricted in some parts of the border with China. One can rarely travel internationally with this permit. Some countries recognise the permit, such as the USA. To apply for travel documents is expensive. Theoretically Tibetan refugees in Nepal are eligible for citizenship, but this is not a viable option. The Nepal Citizenship Act permits an adult to apply if he or she:
has the ability to speak and write the national language of Nepal;
has renounced citizenship of any other state;
is a member of any profession in Nepal;
has resided in Nepal for at least 15 years;
is a citizen of a country that permits naturalized citizenship to citizens of Nepal;
is of good moral character, etc.

But these laws remain in the law books. Out of roughly 20,000 Tibetans in Kathmandu and Pokhara alone, nearly 50% or more Tibetans do not possess a Refugee Card or have citizenship.

Newly arrived Tibetans normally arrive in the Tibetan Reception Centre in Kathmandu and then leave for India, mostly to get an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and then to join a school or a monastery.

Four Tibetan Schools were established in Kathmandu during the eighties for Tibetan refugees. The main objectives of these schools are to preserve the Tibetan language, culture, tradition and religion. All schools are of different levels, i.e. Primary, Secondary, High School and Higher Secondary School. But science students who want to continue in further education have to go to India for two or more years as there is no Tibetan Higher Secondary school that provides science education. Refuge cards are not considered as legitimate to obtain admission to the majority of colleges in Nepal. Whilst all young people in Nepal face unemployment to some extent, for Tibetans it is aggravated by legal and social discrimination. And private businesses, from which Tibetans are not barred by law, nonetheless hesitate to hire qualified Tibetans when Nepalese young people also need jobs.

Due to the very limited access to education, proper documents, job opportunities, career building, and a secured future, living in Nepal for Tibetans is very difficult. That is why many Tibetans young people prefer seeking asylum in developed countries.

The Srongsten Bhrikuti Boarding High School was established in 1982. In the beginning it operated in a rented house and the number of students was barely 100. Now there are 700 students. Classes run from kindergarten to Class 10. In view of the many difficulties Tibetan students living in Nepal are facing, there are plans to upgrade the school into a higher secondary school that will provide two more years of education for Tibetan refugees willing to study science. New classrooms and other basic infrastructure are needed and the estimated budget for this project is around 40,000 Euros.

In reply to questions, Mr. Thinley said that most children finish their studies in the Srongtsen Bhrikuti school around 10 or 12 years old and then go to India. Not all higher education establishments cater for Tibetan speaking students so English is used. Financing of the school comes from school fees and donations from different sources, and not from the Tibetan government in exile nor from the Nepalese government. Mr. Sógor Csaba said there were similar problems in Romania, and not to be discouraged! He hoped the EU would react and wished that there were common laws in all countries. Thomas Mann referred to the fact that Tibetan students and refugees can go to the US and become US citizens, and asked if that is really what Tibetans want? Mr. Thinley said that an older generation of Tibetan refugees liked to stay in Nepal or India because they could meet the Tibetan community, and celebrate together religious festivals or other occasions, keeping their culture and traditions. But rights and freedom are very limited so nowadays many young Tibetans do want to settle in developed countries and enjoy freedom and rights there.

Gabriela pointed out that many sponsored Tibetans living in India, having had a good education; go to Canada or America instead of using their qualifications to help other Tibetans. They should spend at least two years helping new refugees coming from Tibet. Mr Thinley replied that college or university places were still very limited for Tibetans. There is the Tibetan Institute of Medical Studies in Dharamsala, but students must agree that they will serve the community for at least two years after their studies. Michel Jermann spoke of a young Tibetan girl who trained in teaching and came to Strasbourg for courses and learned a great deal about teaching and psychomotor skills. She has been working for 3 years but wanted to go to the United States, where she is now doing housework.
But she fulfilled her dream. A Nepalese identity card has to be obtained in order to travel and the only solution is to engage in corruption - anything from 1,500 to 2,000 Euros to get the necessary card. Tibetans in Nepal have access to very little, cannot get a driving licence, or travel, or get jobs, etc. So it’s a question of leaving for a better life elsewhere. Studies past Bachelor level lead nowhere, so leaving Nepal is a legitimate wish.

Thomas Mann also mentioned that Tibet seemed to have faded into the background as far as the media was concerned. There should be an emergency debate at the next plenary session and people should be encouraged not to watch the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. Mr. Poettering will not be attending. Political statements should be made, it was important to keeping the flag flying on the Tibetan issue.
Mr. Tunne Kelma from Estonia fully agreed with these remarks and said that Estonia’s President will not be attending the Olympic Games nor will he send a representative. But those who go to Beijing should voice other opinions – the Chinese are bound to be sensitive to this.
Mr. Csaba referred to the fact that a big Minorities Bill is passing through the Romanian Parliament, as there are many minorities in Romania. They are important parts of the community and should be kept intact.

Gabriela said that an Urgent Resolution should be passed on the state of Tibetan prisoners in Tibet. It is known that they are being severely tortured, do not have enough food, some are dying from hunger. An independent group from an international organisation, UNESCO or another, should go to Tibet and see what is going on. If there is no news in the media this does not mean that nothing is going on.

Arrested Tibetian Marchers on Hungerstrike

41 Tibetans arrested in border district, stopped from restarting March to Tibet on eve of torch relay in Lhasa

Shimla - 41 Tibetans headed to the Indo-Tibet border on Shipkila pass to restart the March to Tibet were arrested by Indian police in four separate incidents. 10 Tibetans arrested in Rampur in Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh yesterday sat for the second day of hunger strike today, refusing to eat and drink unless they are released and allowed to continue the march. 21 Tibetans arrested yesterday in Reckong Peo in Kinnaur district, after a day of hunger strike, were promised by the police authorities that they would be allowed to protest China’s occupation of Tibet. On their way from the police station to the SDM office, the marchers took to the street, shouted slogans and pleaded with the authorities to facilitate their safe passage to Tibet.

“We are Tibetans demanding our right to return to our homeland,” said Dr. B Tsering, President of the Tibetan Women’s Association, speaking from Paonta Sahib where the 300 marchers are being hosted by the local Tibetan communities. “International law concerning refugees’ right of return demands that China must not stop us from going to Tibet while India must facilitate our journey instead of obstructing it.” Yesterday morning, three Tibetans walked toward the Indo-Tibet border on Shipkila Pass, planning to hoist a Tibetan flag on Tibetan soil. About ten kilometres from Tibet, they were apprehended by the border police and detained. However, minutes before their arrest, the three were able to unfurl Tibetan flags and a banner reading “Free Tibet Now.” Seven other Tibetans planning to join the three were arrested the day before in Pooh.

“The Chinese government is using the Olympic torch as a political tool in an attempt to legitimize its rule in Tibet and the International Olympic Committee has now endorsed this cynical propaganda scheme,” said Konchok Yangphel of Tibetan Youth Congress, one of the three arrested at the border post. “Tibetans will keep up our struggle long after the Beijing Olympics have ended, and we will never give up until we stand as free people on Tibetan soil.”

Tibetans living in exile in India launched the March to Tibet as part of the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement. On the same day that the march was launched, monks from monasteries in Lhasa, as well as in eastern Tibet, led non-violent demonstrations, shouting slogans supporting the Dalai Lama and independence for Tibet. Chinese authorities brutally suppressed peaceful protests that continued for days, leading to rioting in the capital and a wave of large public demonstrations that have rippled across the country. The March to Tibet and the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement aim to revive the spirit of the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959 by engaging in non-violent direct action to bring about an end to China’s illegal occupation of Tibet.

50 Protesters Arrested close to Indo-Tibet Border as China Changes Olympic Torch Relay Route

Pithoragarh - On the 17th of June, around 9:30am, Indian police arrested 50 Tibetans on their March to Tibet as they entered Dharchula, the last Indian township before the Tibetan border. In groups of 4, the marchers approached the blockade of police officers, attempting to break through in order to continue on their way. The 200 police officers forcefully loaded the groups one at a time onto two waiting buses. It is currently unclear where they will be taken.

“For 100 days we have marched in solidarity with our Tibetan brothers and sisters in Tibet who continue to suffer under China’s brutal crackdown,” said Tsewang Rigzin, President of the Tibetan Youth Congress. “The Tibetan nation is under siege at the moment and China’s parading of the Olympic Torch through our nation’s sacred capital Lhasa is adding insult to injury. We are as determined as ever to keep up our non-violent struggle until Tibet is independent.”

Yesterday, Chinese Olympics officials announced another change to the Olympic torch relay. Beijing Olympic torch relay official Li Lizhi said that the torch would go to Xinjiang for the next three days, and then head to Tibet. Chinese officials have kept the new torch relay plans secret, refusing to confirm the date of the torch’s arrival in Tibet or the new route. Some media articles have cited sources in Lhasa reporting that the torch will arrive in the Tibetan capital on Saturday, June 21st. Chinese Olympics officials previously reduced the time the torch would spend in the Tibetan Autonomous Region from three days to a single day in Lhasa. “In addition to tanks and troops in Lhasa, Chinese authorities are now shrouding the Tibet torch relay in secrecy,” said Tenzin Choeying, National Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet India. “The secrecy and repression surrounding the Olympic torch relay in Tibet betrays the fundamental insecurity of China’s brutal occupation.”

Following a 13 day stand-off with hundreds of Indian police at their camp at Banspatan, 265 Tibetan marchers resumed the March to Tibet on June 4th and were arrested the same day by police at Berinag, approximately 180 kilometers from the Indo-Tibetan border area. On June 9th, the 50 Tibetans arrested today restarted their march in Berinag, and have been constantly surrounded by Indian police since then. According to sources inside Tibet, China has recently deployed additional military troops on the Tibet side of the border with orders to shoot any Tibetan who might come from Tibet toward the Indian border to support the marchers.

“After 100 days of marching, the Indian government has arrested these 50 peaceful marchers who are following Gandhiji’s tradition of ahimsa,” said Dr. B. Tsering, President of the Tibetan Women’s Association, who was arrested with the marchers. “India has the spiritual and moral duty to help Tibetans in their nonviolent struggle against Chinese colonization. The Indian government must recognize that these Tibetans are not a threat to Indian security. China is the real threat.”

The March to Tibet started on March 10th from Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, and reached Dharchula after traversing through many states. Tibetans living in exile in India launched the March to Tibet as part of the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement. On the same day that the march was launched, monks from monasteries in Lhasa, as well as in eastern Tibet, led nonviolent demonstrations, shouting slogans supporting the Dalai Lama and independence for Tibet. Chinese authorities brutally suppressed peaceful protests that continued for days, leading to rioting in the capital and a wave of large public demonstrations that have rippled across the country.

The March to Tibet and the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement aim to revive the spirit of the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959 by engaging in non-violent direct action to bring about an end to China’s illegal occupation of Tibet.

March to Tibet Restarts as six Leaders Are Released from Jail

Leaders declare March will continue despite temporary setback

Nainital - At approximately 2:30 PM today, 9 June, the March to Tibet restarted from Berinag after overcoming a temporary setback suffered last week when 265 of the marchers were arrested. The marchers broke into song and joy as they saw the snow-capped Himalayan ranges in the horizon. The leaders of the March, who had been jailed for 11 days in Hardwar jail and released on Sunday June 8th, led a group of 50 Tibetans on what is expected to be the most difficult leg of the march. The five presidents and the March Coordinator had been jailed by Indian police since May 27th, charged under Indian Penal Code Section 151 and CRPC sections 116 and 107.

“China’s long arm is oppressing us even in a free country like India,” said Chime Youngdung, President of the National Democratic Party of Tibet, soon after his release from jail. “The Olympics was supposed to bring more freedom to China and Tibet, but instead China is exporting its oppression to the free world in this Olympic year.”

“India has shown us the highest degree of hospitality for the past 50 years and we are grateful for it,” said Tsewang Rigzin, President of the Tibetan Youth Congress. “But now we want to return to Tibet and work in solidarity with our brothers and sisters back home to end China’s illegal occupation of Tibet.” The march from Berinag to Tibet is expected to take more than a week during which the 50 marchers will traverse approximately 180 kilometers along the historical Himalayan trade route. They will reach Tibet around the time when China’s controversial Olympic torch is expected to pass through Lhasa. In April, a chain of global protests in London, Paris, San Francisco and New Delhi turned China’s Olympic torch relay into a colossal failure.

“It will be a long and arduous journey to Tibet,” said Shingza Rinpoche, looking at the Panch Chuli mountains in the distance. “But we will get there eventually. Even the Himalayas can’t stand between us and our brothers and sisters inside Tibet.”
The 265 marchers detained at Berinag were dropped off at Paonta Sahib, at the border of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, where they received a warm welcome from the local Tibetan communities. The March to Tibet started on March 10th from Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, and reached Banspatan after traversing through many states. Tibetans living in exile in India launched the March to Tibet as part of the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement. On the same day that the march was launched, monks from monasteries in Lhasa, as well as in eastern Tibet, led nonviolent demonstrations, shouting slogans supporting the Dalai Lama and independence for Tibet. Chinese authorities brutally suppressed peaceful protests that continued for days, leading to rioting in the capital and a wave of large public demonstrations that have rippled across the country.

The March to Tibet and the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement aim to revive the spirit of the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959, and engage in nonviolent direct action to bring about an end to China’s illegal occupation of Tibet.

70th MEETING OF THE TIBET INTERGROUP

Wednesday, 21 May 2008

Thomas Mann opened the meeting and spoke about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Germany, which had been a great success. He had visited many cities and each time several thousand people attended.  There were a small number of protests, and His Holiness said, “I know that I am a trouble-maker!” His visit attracted a great deal of media attention. The world needed people who were willing to speak out for freedom and justice especially when there was a diplomatic “ice age”.

Members of all parties wanted to invite His Holiness to once again visit the European Parliament, and it should be made clear that the European Parliament themselves decide who they want to meet.  The Council of Europe had issued an invitation for the Dalai Lama to speak to the June Parliamentary Assembly, but owing to an overloaded diary it had not been possible to take up the invitation at the moment.   Everyone is very keen to invite His Holiness, all over the world.

There had not been any recent demonstrations by Tibetans, as a sign of solidarity with the Chinese who suffered during the recent earthquakes.

The recent meeting between the representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese authorities did not provide much opportunity for enthusiasm. Pleasant things were said, but implementation will be very difficult.

The Dalai Lama also recently visited Great Britain and received an Honorary Doctorate from London Metropolitan University. He had a meeting with the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs, and also met the Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Bill Newton-Dunne will be asked to talk at the next meeting about this visit, as will Nathalie Griesbeck after the Dalai Lama’s visit to Nantes in early August.

The next President of the EU will be Nicolas Sarkozy, and he should be asked to receive the Dalai Lama.  A letter had been sent to Bernard Kouchner but so far there was no reply. 

The Tibetan flag should also fly from the roof of EP buildings.

Mr. Janusz Onyszkiewicz spoke of the invitation issued to the Dalai Lama to receive an Honorary Degree from the no. 1 university in Poland, the Jagiellonian University of Kraków. No answer had yet been received, but His Holiness would be assured of a warm welcome in Poland.

Mr Onyskwiewicz also spoke of the legacy of SOLIDARNOSC.  In the 60s and 70s there had been violent clashes with the authorities and it was realised that attitudes must change and that non-violence would be more acceptable. Inspiration had been taken from Jaroslav Havel, who had written about the “power of the powerless”, and from the example of India.  At that time, some people knew about the Dalai Lama and appreciated his teachings – truth is the only weapon that we possess.   The Polish workers realised that the only way to change the totalitarian attitude into a benevolent autocracy was to create Trade Unions, just as His Holiness the Dalai Lama asks for real autonomy in Tibet and building institutions in Tibetan society.

A very important point is to make contact with other politicians to gain practical experience and valuable pointers.

At future meetings between representatives of His Holiness and the Chinese authorities, it was probable that pragmatism would have to be combined with principles.  We should insist on full negotiation. We should stop talking about the weather and talk about the real issues.  It should also be remembered that the EU does not depend on China, but rather that China depends on the EU!
For the first time, the fact that the leader of the CCP was talking with His Holiness the Dalai Lama (through representatives) has been reported in the Chinese media.  Kelsang Gyaltsen saw this as a symbolic action and a step forward.

Eva Lichtenberger took the floor and spoke about the very useful meeting on 6 May between the TIG and the Sub Committee on Human Rights. The conference was focussed mainly on what could happen before, during and after the Olympic Games, concerning a real autonomy for Tibet and Human Rights in China (as promised by China when it was awarded the Olympic Games).  This promise included freedom of movement, freedom for the press, etc. but these promises have not been fulfilled. There was much discussion on the subject.
If this non-compliance goes on, Heads of State should not attend the Opening Ceremony. Many sportsmen and women have expressed their views very clearly on this point, including the former colleague Rheinhold Messner.
The Chinese government had been putting Olympic Games blogs on-line, but were not anxious to give any interviews, or if they did, the representative concerned would not turn up. One Austrian expert spoke about censorship but the reply was that the Chinese government found some people “disobedient”.
The Chinese are not interested in progress about Human Rights in Tibet. Methods of reducing freedom of the press are more than ever sophisticated. There is a satellite especially for the Olympic Games.

Gabriela said that it would be of help if the EU would officially invite His Holiness to visit, and that the TIG should hold one or two meetings dealing with autonomy structure, referring to examples such as the Tyrol, Scotland, etc. Specialists could be invited to speak of their experience.

In the beginning the autonomy process is discussed behind closed doors, but eventually should become open and official.  Citizens should have the right to be addressed in their own language and not depend on Chinese translation.

It was unfortunate that His Holiness would not be able to accept the Council of Europe’s invitation to speak at the June Parliamentary Assembly, but he had been overwhelmed with invitations in recent weeks.
Mr. Poettering was willing to go to Dharamsala if it would be of help.

Eva added that we should discuss what could be done after the Olympic Games. Tibet should be kept on the EU Agenda.

The visit of the Dalai Lama to Germany, May 2008

His Holiness the Dalai Lama spent five days in Germany (May 16th-20th)

He lectured about subjects such as:

• "Religion - Peace Maker or War Maker" and
• "Human Rights as a duty" 

1. Bochum (Westphalia)

• He was invited by the Lord Major
• He signed the golden book
• 5.000 supporters listened to his speech

2. Bamberg (Bavaria)

• 5.000 celebrated him in the basketball-stadium

3. Nürnberg (Bavaria)

• Last Sunday enthusiastic 7.000 people were in the arena

Press Conference with Ms. Kate Saunders, Communications Director of ICT and Gyaltsen Dolkar, political prisoner

Wednesday, 23 April 2008

Ms Saunders spoke about the increasing number of demonstrations by Tibetans and monks across the Tibetan plateau, and the continuing repression by the Chinese government authorities. The demonstrations are always peaceful (with one sole exception when there was some violence towards Chinese). The demonstrators call out for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. ICT has monitored 98 demonstrations and it is clear that the Tibetans want to communicate their feelings and send a message to the world.

4000 people have been detained in Lhassa and Gang Tsu and 400 were released.
Many of the detained people have been transported elsewhere in Tibet. Many had no shoes and all had been badly beaten before they were loaded on to trains out of Lhassa. Many older Tibetans remember the same thing happening in the 1950s, and most people thus transported never came back.

A family in Lhassa carrying out religious rituals following the loss of a small child were all shot from behind, and witnesses threatened if they dared to complain.

There is a major crackdown and it is difficult to obtain details of the number of dead and wounded by the Chinese authorities.

Ms Saunders introduced Gyaltsen Dolkar, who spent 12 years in Drapchi prison in Lhassa and spoke of her experiences there. She was 19 and a nun in 1990 when she was arrested for taking part in a demonstration to ask for religious freedom and human rights in Tibet. All those who took part in the demonstration were sentenced to between 3 and 7 years detention. During her time in prison she was subjected to brutal interrogation and tortured by electrical instruments, hung from a tree and beaten, to the point of losing consciousness. On another occasion, her arms were crossed behind her back, she was strung up from a wooden beam and beaten all over her body, kicked, and hit with a belt on her head. She still has mental and physical scars from these experiences.

Thanks to international pressure, she was liberated before the end of her sentence, but in 1993 was sentenced again for having recorded songs in prison expressing suffering and conditions in prison. At a trial before a court, she was sentenced to four years imprisonment, but later, without a trial, she was given an extra eight years.

Many people are sent to “re-education camps”, and people are sentenced without trial. There are many “disappearances”.

Gyaltsen Dolkar expressed the hope that all countries supporting human rights will exert the maximum pressure on China so that all political prisoners can be liberated as soon as possible. She added that in speaking of China, the ordinary people are not aware of what is going on in Tibet or even in their own country.

Thomas Mann thanked Gyaltsen for her talk and said that the EU should be more determined and condemn the repression in China and Tibet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama should again be invited to address the European Parliament.

69th MEETING OF THE TIBET INTERGROUP

Wednesday, 23 April 2008

Thomas Mann opened the meeting and introduced Kate Saunders, Communications Director of the International Campaign for Tibet. Ms Saunders spoke of the recent events, and said that there was a new awareness and a new image of Tibet. There had recently been an orderly march in Lhassa demanding the release of imprisoned monks, but the march was stopped, and 50 people detained. Many people sat down in protest. The police and paramilitary were restrained at first, but there were some scuffles. A Tibetan flag was unfurled in the Barkhor area, but the person who did this was dragged away.

There had been protests before in 1988, but this time things have moved very quickly and the scale is bigger than anyone imagined. Other protests have called for freedom of Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. People communicate with cell phones and can express their feelings that way, but the Chinese authorities have realised this and now confiscate cell phones. Because of the monks’ protests, there is now compulsory “Patriotic Education” instruction in monasteries.

ICT had monitored 97 non-violent protests (and a single one where violence occurred). A group of nomads rode into a town on horses, unarmed (normally they would be, but they were making a point), tore down a Communist Party flag and raised a Tibetan flag. Monks in the Jokhang temple gave a virtual Press conference and spoke of their wish for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet. One monk spoke of the fact that religious repression prevented him from continuing on his path of Dharma. They are distressed by allegations that they have arms hidden in the temple.

Richard Gere recently referred to the Tibetan protests, and aid that “speaking truth – the right speech” is a precept of Tibetan Buddhism, and recent events show the emptiness of the “harmonious society” claimed by China.

No one questions the authority of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, indeed it has been strengthened by recent events. People have risked their lives to show their loyalty. The Chinese President Hu Jintao has a great deal of responsibility for the complete breakdown of China’s policy in Tibet, he set out many policies that led to unrest. What has happened recently is the consequence of 50 years of Chinese misrule. There has been a failure to understand the deep-seated sense of loss of the Tibetan people; they lose their language, their livelihoods, and become increasingly marginalized with the Chinese influx (for the second time).

They are forced to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama, causing great stress. This has been happening for a long time but is a hundred times worse now. Work teams move into monasteries, demolish holy shrines and burn images of the Dalai Lama. The military crackdown is very intensive, but those who protest have genuine reasons to do so.

The Beijing-Lhassa train now transports hundreds of prisoners to Sechuan and GangTsu; many monks are badly beaten. This is all very chilling for older Tibetans in Lhassa – they remember the 1950s when prisoners went west and never came back.

There have been 4000 detentions admitted by the Chinese authorities, but people are still disappearing every day. An atmosphere of fear and terror reigns; people wait for a knock on the door.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been made into a scapegoat and is accused of mastering the protests.

Europe has a big role to play, and the EU should use its diplomatic influence and continue to fully support Tibet. It is now high time for China to speak to His Holiness’ representatives. Tibet is at a turning point and EU support never mattered more.

Thomas Mann thanked Ms Saunders for her talk and referred to the numerous Resolutions on Tibet passed by the European Parliament. He also mentioned the black armbands that could be worn by the Olympic sportsmen and women, giving a clear sign, without provocation.

Gabriela informed the meeting that Mr. Jarzembowski is going to China, and that it would be useful for him to take names of some of the monks that have been detained so that he could ask the authorities for news of them. Ms Saunders promised to pass on this information.

In answer to a question about the Panchen Lama, Ms Saunders said that at one time there was a lot of news about the “Chinese” Panchen Lama, it seemed that he had a high profile, but of late there has been no news of him. Another question concerned legal assistance to the detained and imprisoned, would be it possible to help, to offer this assistance, maybe as Observers?

Ms Saunders replied that 18 courageous Chinese lawyers had offered to give legal assistance to detained people, but after harassment from the Chinese authorities they pulled out. It was nevertheless an excellent idea to offer this assistance, especially for Tibetans who have been detained in vast numbers, many tortured. Some were released but others face charges. Such an offer of assistance would give extra visibility to the issue.

Upon being asked what was happening in their own states, a number of members told of considerable media interest, demonstrations, and pressure on governments to give support to the Tibetan cause and for the Chinese authorities to meet with His Holiness’ representatives. Many governments will not be represented at the Opening Ceremony.