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Japanese MP Visits Dharamshala, Voices Support for Tibet

Wednesday, 6 August 2008, 5:27 p.m.
Dharamshala: Mr Jin Matsubara, member of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Parliament, has called for improving human rights situation in Tibet and underlined the need to 'speak against the violators of human rights'.

He said any form of suppression of freedom and human rights by any government should be denounced and prevent it as a disease from spreading.

Matsubara, accompanied by Prof Pema Gyalpo, former representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Japan, was addressing Tibetan reporters at the Tibetan Parliamentary Secretariat on Wednesday morning.

He said with the growing support for Tibetan cause in Japan, a committee comprising of one hundred members have been set-up to support human rights and freedom of Tibetan people in Tibet.

The committee has members both from the ruling and opposition parties of the Japan and some of them are very influential, he added.

He further said His Holiness the Dalai Lama's emphasis on the preservation of environment and improvement of human rights in Tibet is very effective.

Some of the countries, including China, which involved in suppression of freedom and human rights, also employed measures to degrade the natural environment, he said.

It is of utmost importance to put same efforts on both human rights and environment, he added.

Welcoming the visit of Mr Matsubara, Dolma Gyari, deputy speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, said his visit to Dharamshala is a strong and clear indication of Japan's long-term support and solidarity for Tibet during its critical moment.

Mrs Gyari said, through Mr Matsubara, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile will submit a letter to Japanese prime minister to express our appreciation for Mr Matsubara's visit to Dharamshala.

His commitment to visit us despite many difficulties sends a strong message of support for the Tibetan cause, she added.

Lauding Japan's support for the Tibetan people, she said, Japan has learned the value of humanity from the tragedy of Horoshima and Nagasaki bombings.

The Japanese MP received an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama this afternoon.

He also met Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche and Venerable Tsering Phuntsok, kalon for the Department of Religion and Culture.


--Editing by Lobsang CHOEDAK

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