British MP Raises Tibet in Parliament Debate Following Recent VisitFriday, 16 October 2009, 3:23 p.m.

James at Prime Ministers Question Time

Dharamshala:
“I was privileged to take part in a Parliamentary delegation to Tibet
and China last month and to be able to raise with our Chinese hosts
questions about the effect of Tibet on China’s relationship with the
west, and the number of human rights abuses that have taken place in
Tibet,” North Wiltshire MP James Gray said in his web site.“Yesterday I took part in a Westminster Hall debate in which I raised some of these issues further,” Mr Gray said.“In
my view, the Chinese Government should hasten negotiations face to face
with the Dalai Lama, possibly involving third nation interlocutors, so
that the role and status of the Dalai Lama should not cloud relations
between the free world and China,” he said.“Human rights
abuses, which the delegation raised with our Chinese hosts, should not
lead to the wholly illogical stance of those who call for a ‘Free
Tibet,” he added.Mr Gray said the United States and European
Union supported His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s position that “Tibet
should have an autonomous status within the framework of the Chinese
constitution.”Related:MEMORANDUM ON GENUINE AUTONOMY FOR THE TIBETAN PEOPLE