London, December 12 1994. From an article published in The Observer, "The European Union is to give Peking #5.89 million for an irrigation scheme condemned by human rights activists as helping China's colonisation of Tibet. The Commission says the project, approved in October, will benefit farmers in the Panam region, who are predominantly Tibetan. But the project was originally proposed by the Chinese government, which has embarked on a massive campaign to colonise the region, already occupied by its troops. Human rights groups fear the scheme is aimed at making Tibetan farmers adopt Chinese methods of farming. Peter Guilford, spokesman for external economic relations at the European Commission, defended the project yesterday, saying several non-governmental organisations, including Mdecins sans Frontires Belgium, had been involved in preparing it. Yesterday, however, MSF denied this, adding:'We decided not to participate in the Panam project as it does not fit within our own criteria, as our priority is to

work mainly in the poorest areas of Tibet.' Mr Guilford also said: 'The parliament has been kept regularly informed.' But yesterday, Tory MEP James Moorhouse, who is co-President of the European Parliament's all-party group on Tibet, said he heard about the project for the first time 'two or three months ago', but not in any detail. He is now waiting for answers to written questions which he submitted last week. He said: 'What I doubt is whether the Commissioners or their officials in Brussels would be as eager as we are to apply a civil rights clause.' Tim Nunn, general secretary of the Tibet Support Group (UK), said he was troubled that Brussels was giving Chinese propaganda an immeasurable boost. (EuroTibet News N·9)