 |
| From left to right : MEP Barbara Lochbihler, Chair, Human rights subcommittee, H.E. Kirti Rinpoche and Ms Rigzin Choedon Genkhang of the Office of Tibet in Brussels |
In his statement, Rinpoche expressed his deep gratitude to the European Parliament for its consistent support to the non-violent freedom struggle of the Tibetan people and for giving him the opportunity to exchange views with its members.
He briefed the panel on the deteriorating human rights situation inside Tibet, particularly in the Ngaba region, expressing his immediate concern for the safety of the families, relatives and friends of the 107 self-immolators who are being handed down heavy sentences including death for their alleged role in “inciting” self-immolation. MEPs listened attentively to Rinpoche’s testimony and expressed their deep concern and solidarity with the Tibetan people in their freedom struggle.
Kirti Rinpoche called on the European Parliament to take concrete actions to help preserve the Tibetan language, religion, culture and identity, which are facing extermination under the Chinese government’s repressive policies.
He urged the European Parliament for the adoption of a resolution demanding an immediate end to the repressive policies and withdrawal of Chinese security forces from the Tibetan areas. He also called for an immediate release of all the Tibetans imprisoned under false charges or for their alleged role in the self-immolations and unfettered access for independent fact-finding delegations and the media to examine the real situation in Tibet.
In the afternoon, in addition to meetings with some prominent EU officials, Rinpoche was invited as the guest speaker to the 95th meeting of the all party Tibet Intergroup in the European Parliament. Other than MEPs, parliamentary assistants, representatives of NGOs, the meeting was attended by Ms Chungdak Koren, member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile representing Europe and a group of young Tibetans from across Europe participating in the annual lobby day.
Rinpoche has a series of important and meaningful meetings lined up in Brussels before he visits Paris on 11 March.
“It has come to our knowledge that China’s EU Ambassador is also actively seeking meetings with officials that met Rinpoche during his visit to Brussels,” an officials at the Office in Tibet in Brussels said.
.tibet.net
8/3/13
---
-
Related:
ΕΚ/Στήριξη στις ελπίδες του Θιβέτ: Ο 11ος Kirti Rinpoche στο ΕΚ
What is happening in Tibet is genocide: Telo Rinpoche
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
At UN session, China urged to allow Special Rapporteur to visit Tibet....
ReplyDeleteGENEVA: UN Special Procedure Mandate holders, who play a significant role in the human rights mechanism, will present their reports during the Human Rights Council’s 22nd session. Their reports include specific country visits and communications of human rights violation concerns to respective governments.
On 5 March, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has presented its annual report to the plenary session. This was followed by interactive dialogue.
Mr Tenzin Samphel KAYTA, speaking on behalf of the Society for Threatened Peoples, said that since the 2008 uprising on the Tibetan plateau, hundreds and thousands of Tibetans faced arbitrary detentions leading to many cases of enforced disappearances, custodial deaths, unfair trails and harsh prison sentences.
He said that on 13 July 2012, five mandate holders wrote to the Chinese authorities about the “allegations of arbitrary deprivation of liberty and ill-treatment of a 17 year old girl following the peaceful exercise of her rights to freedom of opinion and expression and assembly.”
He further expressed deep concern over growing number of relatives and friends of Tibetans who self-immolated. In late June 2012, a week after Ngawang Norphel and Tenzin Khedup self-immolated, Ngawang Norphel’s wife, Drolma Dekyi and two other family members were detained for questioning.
On 5 March, the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance (WGEID) and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom on Religion or Belief presented their annual reports. Both had sent official communications to China asking clarification on allegations with regard to individual case and several thematic issues.
Speaking on behalf of Society for Threatened Peoples on 6 March, Mr KAYTA said that the practice of enforced disappearances continues to persist in many countries in Asia and particularly in China as stated in the WGEID continues to document.
He drew the plenary session’s attention to China’s failure to issue official clarifications on status of residence or well-being of 300 monks of the Kirti Monastery. Chinese paramilitary police took the monks away in ten military trucks to unknown destination in April 2011.
Speaking on religious freedom or belief, Mr KAYTA said though the Chinese constitution guarantee’s freedom of religion; China’s introduction of new management policies on monasteries and intensification of so-called “patriotic education” campaign has put pressure on religious institutions in Tibet Regions.
During such campaigns, the communist cadres force monks and nuns to pledge allegiance to the Communist Party and denounce their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. The six million Tibetans who follow Tibetan Buddhism regard His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the manifestation of the Buddha of Compassion.
The Special Rapporteur on Freedom on Religion or Belief in his report expressed major concern about State interference in the direct proper functioning of religious institutions referring to China’s “Democratic Management Committee” that oversees the overall day-to-day affairs of monastic and religious activities in Tibet.
In his final oral intervention, Mr Tenzin Samphel KAYTA urged China –
1. To fully cooperate with UN mechanisms by fixing early date of the visit of Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or belief including in Tibet regions where situation is reported to be grim and serious.
2. To respond to the WGEID’s allegation transmitted on 6 August 2010 0 (A/HRC/16/48, paras. 118-21) with regard to detention of hundreds of Uighur and disappearance of some of them on in the event of unrest in Urumqi, Xinjiang in July 2009.
3. To take legislative action that will abolish “reeducation through labor”
4. To clear path for the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which was signed on 5 Oct 1998.
http://tibet.net/2013/03/09/at-un-session-china-urged-to-allow-special-rapporteur-to-visit-tibet/
9/3/13
The 100th Self-Immolation in Tibet- A case for the world to answer...
ReplyDeletePRESS RELEASE
14 February 2013
“Dignity is the spirit of a nationality…,” wrote the 42-year-old monk Sopa Rinpoche before his self-immolation on January 8, 2012. Since the first such action by Tapey on February 8, 2009, 100 Tibetans have burnt themselves. This has taken place, despite the recent harsh and unlawful sentencing of 8 Tibetans and arrest of family members, for allegedly instigating Tibetans to self-immolation.
All of them have called for the collective restoration of Tibetan dignity: Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to Tibet and freedom for Tibet.
Latest reports coming out of Tibet say Lobsang Namgyal, a 37-year-old monk of Kirti Monastery died after setting himself on fire in Ngaba, north-eastern Tibet, on 3 February 2013. Though the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) continues to repeatedly appeal to the Tibetans in Tibet to refrain from such drastic acts, sadly the self-immolations continue.
The ongoing and unprecedented self-immolations by an increasing number of Tibetans in Tibet are the ultimate acts of civil disobedience against China’s failed rule in Tibet. Instead of owning the onus of tragedy in Tibet – a self evident responsibility of its over 60 years of continuous iron-grip rule in Tibet – China relentlessly and irresponsibly accuses His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership of inciting these self-immolations.
To unveil the truth of the matter in Tibet, we have called on China to provide unfettered access to Tibet for the global media, diplomats and international NGOs. On our part, we have repeatedly invited China to Dharamshala, India, the headquarters of CTA, to investigate our alleged role in the self-immolations. We have pledged full co-operation and unhindered access to our offices.
The CTA, therefore, calls on the national governments and international agencies, including the United Nations, to use their good offices and actively engage with China to stop the deteriorating situation in Tibet by addressing the genuine grievances of the Tibetans. Concrete steps for the leaders of the world need to take immediately are to send Ms Navi Pillay of UNHCR to visit Tibet and investigate the real causes of self immolations, and convene a meeting to discuss and address the crisis in Tibet. It would go a long way not only to encourage the Tibetans in their effort to embrace democracy and non-violence but also to be a catalyst for a moderate China.
Dr. Lobsang Sangay
Sikyong of the Tibetan Administration based in India
Media contacts:
Mr Tashi Phuntsok, Secretary for Information, + 91 9816539103
Mr Lobsang Choedak, Press Officer, + 91 9882232476
http://tibet.net/2013/02/14/the-100th-self-immolation-in-tibet-a-case-for-the-world-to-answer/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CTA-PressReleases+%28Central+Tibetan+Administration+%C2%BB+Press+Releases%29
14/2/13
Eastern Tibet Witness Protest on Uprising Day....
ReplyDeleteMarch 14, 2013 9:20 pm
DHARAMSHALA: Three Tibetan monks and two lay men have been arrested for protesting against the Chinese rule in Sershul county in eastern Tibet’s Kham province on 10 March.
The three monks – Sonam Namgyal, Thubten Gelek and Lobsang Samten – carrying a photo of His Holiness the Dalai Lama raised slogans calling for freedom and democracy.
The police also arrested two lay men, Lobsang Kalsang and Ngawang Gyatso, when they tried to prevent them from arresting the three monks.
Following the arrests, the Chinese government has imposed severe restrictions on internet and phone connections, and deployed massive security forces across the region.
The three monks belong to Mang-Gye monastery in Zachukha in Sershul county.
While Lobsang Kalsang, 17, son of Jamyang Tsering and Jamyang Dolma, and Ngawang Gyatso, son of late Tsewang Lhamo, are natives of Bumnying and Bumsar village in Zachukha respectively.
On 10 March 2008, 14 monks from Lungkar monastery in Golok, and Onpo, Mang-Gye and Kashi monasteries in Zachukha studying at Sera monastery took part in a peaceful protest in Barkhor square in Tibet’s capital Lhasa. Since then Zachukha has witnessed sustained protest by Tibetans.
http://tibet.net/2013/03/14/eastern-tibet-witness-protest-on-uprising-day/
14/3/13
Declaration by High Representative Catherine Ashton on behalf of the European Union
ReplyDeleteregarding the treatment of human rights defenders and their relatives in China ....
The EU has welcomed recent decisions by the Chinese authorities to deepen the reform of the
justice system and to uphold the Constitution and laws to protect human rights.
However, in recent weeks, the EU has become seriously concerned about the trials, convictions,
detention and house arrests of a number of Chinese human rights defenders. Some, like Xu Zhiyong, were peacefully advocating social justice and a society based on the rule of law, and more transparency in the fight against corruption. Some, like Ilham Tohti, were p
romoting the human rights of minorities, while others, like Cao Shunli, were supporting the partic
ipation of independent civil society in the UN Universal Periodic Review of China. .............http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/140884.pdf
2/2/13