World Tibet Network News Monday, February 02, 1998

House of Commons - British Lower House of Parliament

Date 22 January 1998

Mr. Godman: When she last met her colleagues from other member states of the European Union to discuss matters relating to the provision of multilateral aid to the indigenous people of Tibet. [23859]

The Secretary of State for International Development (Clare Short): I have not personally discussed aid to Tibet with my European colleagues, but my officials are in touch with the Commission about the proposed Pa Nam rural development project, which will provide assistance for indigenous small farmers in Tibet. One condition of the agreement with the Chinese Government was that there should be clear provision for participation by local communities.

Mr. Godman: Not a penny of European Union funding should be given to the project until certain guarantees are met, one of which should be that the project must be managed and staffed by indigenous Tibetans. Before the agreement with the Chinese Government is signed, the involvement of non-governmental organisations must also be guaranteed. I understand that the Save the Children Fund could help with the project.

Clare Short: Agreement has been reached with the Chinese Government that the project should involve

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indigenous Tibetans and NGOs. On the non-renewal of a visa for an education worker with the Save the Children Fund, Sir Leon Brittan decided, without consulting member states or the Save the Children Fund--I think that my hon. Friend will approve of the decision--to suspend implementation of the project until the problem is resolved. We very much hope that it will soon be resolved.

Rev. Martin Smyth: During a recent visit to India--at my own expense--I joined Lord Weatherill to visit Dharmasala. Would the Secretary of State be prepared to consider, and perhaps act, on providing scholarships for young Tibetans to come and be educated so that they might give leadership to their own people?

Clare Short: Most of the help which Britain bilaterally gives to Tibet is provided through local non-governmental organisations to get the help into the hands of local Tibetans. On scholarships, we are trying to move the emphasis towards training in the country because we can achieve more for our money and provide training that is relevant to the needs of that country. I will look at the hon. Gentleman's proposal, but that is the way in which we are moving.

House of Lords - British Upper House of Parliament

Date 22 January 1998

Lord Weatherill: My Lords, I cannot speak with the same knowledge or wide experience of foreign affairs as former Secretaries of State or the noble Lord, Lord Wright of Richmond, to whom we are indebted for this debate. I rise to draw attention to the plight of Tibet. In doing so, I must declare an interest as patron of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Tibet and of the Tibet Society.

We are rightly proud of our parliamentary tradition of settling our disputes by "parley" rather than by the sword--indeed, we constantly seek to persuade other nations to follow our example.

When the Dalai Lama received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, it was because of,

"His consistent resistance to the use of violence in his people's struggle to regain their independence".

Since 1959, His Holiness, together with some 100,000 of his countrymen and women and children have lived in exile in India--and all honour goes to India for taking them in.

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In September, I visited Dharamsala, and during my discussions with the Dalai Lama he told me that one of his great problems was to restrain young Tibetans in exile from taking up arms in their struggle to return to their homeland. They say that unless and until they do so, the world will continue to turn a blind eye to their plight. I am sure your Lordships will agree that we who preach and practise the same non-violent approach as the Dalai Lama have a moral obligation to give him our positive and practical support.

Four weeks ago, the International Commission of Jurists published a long report (some 370 pages) drawing attention to the continued repression and the gross abuse of human rights in Tibet. It is the latest of several reports. To its credit, the European Parliament has long supported the Dalai Lama's approach of reasoned negotiations with the Chinese Government and his policy of non-violence. As recently as 15th January, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling upon the Council and the Commission to appoint a special representative for Tibet,

"responsible for doing everything possible to carry out the European Union's demands as regards civil and political rights in Tibet with a remit to monitor developments there".

The United States Government recently appointed Mr. Gregory Craig as special co-ordinator for Tibet with a remit to promote substantive negotiations between the Dalai Lama and the Government of the People's Republic of China.

The All Party Group on Tibet, as the Minister will know, has had several meetings with the Minister of State in her department, Mr. Derek Fatchett, and we have been greatly encouraged by his robust approach to the problems of Tibetans in exile.

The United Kingdom's presidency of the European Union provides an ideal opportunity positively to promote the appointment of a European special representative for Tibet to carry out the resolution of the European Parliament in full.

My diary contains at the start of each week a quotation. This week, it was by Francis Bacon. It read:

"He who deemeth small things beneath his state will be too small for what is truly great".

It may be true that in relation to the other problems and dangers to which other noble Lords have drawn attention the plight of Tibet is a small matter and not therefore a particularly high priority. But it is not a small matter for the people of Tibet and those in exile.

I hope that your Lordships will agree that for our country it is a moral duty that we should practise what we preach. I hope that the noble Baroness will be able to give us that assurance today. For the people of Tibet, it would be a truly great thing.