FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

19 September 1996

Contacts: Tempa Tsering, Thubten Samphel - Tel: (91-1892) 22457

Dharamsala welcomes Europe statements on Tibet in Beijing Several European MPs and Australia issue strong statements on behalf of Tibet during the current conference of world parliamentarians in the Chinese capital

DHARMSALA, 19 September - "We deeply appreciate the strongly- worded statements made by some of the European members of parliaments and Australia on the issue of Tibet during the current Inter-Parliamentary Union Meeting in Beijing," said Kalon Tashi Wangdi, kalon for the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration.

Kalon Tashi Wangdi was reacting to the statements made by four members of parliaments from Norway, Estonia, the Netherlands, and Austria, and an Australian MP. "Their statements have a special significance since these were made in Beijing itself and will send a strong message to the Chinese leadership that what policies it pursues in Tibet is watched with concern by the outside world," Kalon Tashi Wangdi said.

During the current meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Beijing, Mr. H. Ellefsen, a Norwegian MP, describing Tibet as an "occupied" country, said, "Specifically I would like to draw your attention to the situation in Tibet, with an ancient and unique culture which is admired all over the world, and with centuries-old relationship with China. The ancient agreement between China and Tibet engraved on a rock in Lhasa invoked the stars in heaven as witnesses. Those witnesses are now watching the unhappiness of Tibetans who long for the return of the Dalai Lama. The Chinese Government must be aware of the grave concerns of the international community, expressed in two resolutions of the General Assembly of the United Nations. They should open the hand of friendship to the Dalai Lama who ask for unconditional negotiations. At stake is the respect for Tibetan culture and political and religious rights."

Mrs. K. Kilvet, an Estonian MP, while referring to the problem of large states, hoped that "the Chinese Government would respond positively to the initiatives of the Dalai Lama relating to Tibet." She said that she hopes that the six-year-old Tibetan boy about whom there was an argument would soon be released.

Mr. J. Hochtl, an Austrian parliamentarian, said that he had a deep desire that the people of Tibet should receive greater freedom. He said that Tibetans had no religious or political freedom, and their ethnic rights were also disregarded. He asked his Chinese colleagues to tell the conference why the new Panchen Lama approved by the Dalai Lama was abducted and an alternative child and as the Panchen Lama. The whole world was interested, he said.

Mr. H. Vos, a Dutch parliamentarian, said that IPU's strength was that it represented a broad spectrum of religious and political views, but its weakness was that it was not able handle this diversity. The Chinese delegate had heard about the situation in Tibet. While Mr. H. Vos did not want to comment on the situation there, it was clear that people are not always able to talk about what they want, he said.

The Australian MP said that all the parliamentarians gathered in Beijing should be gravely concerned about the human rights situation in Tibet.