China asked to allow Panchen Lama speak publicly
Friday, 8 September 2006, 2:00 PM
Dharamshala: In an official visit to China and Tibet from 21-31 August, a delegation of French senators has requested the Chinese authorities to allow His Serenity Gendun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1995, to speak publicly.
Led by Mr. Louis de Broissa, the senators met the members of the National People’s Congress and the People’s Assembly of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and expressed their wish that the ongoing Sino-Tibetan dialogue could lead to an agreement before the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Following is the English rendering of the statement by Senator Broissa, president of the Tibetan Information Group in the French Senate, issued on 6 September.
A file photo of the French Senators led by Mr Louis de Broissa during their visit here in May 2005 |
For the first time, at the invitation of the Chinese authorities, a delegation of Tibetan Information Group of the Senate visited Beijing and Tibet from 21st to 31st August.
The Senators led by their President Mr. Louis de Broissia (UMP-Cote d’Or District) have met the members of the National People’s Congress and the People’s Assembly of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
While recognizing the reality of the economic development of Tibet since its “peaceful liberation” by the Chinese army in 1950, the Senators pointed out the persisting Tibetan issue which is of concern to the public opinion in the West. During their meetings, they have raised the fact about 140,000 Tibetan living abroad in exile, and also the situation of the Tibetan political prisoners.
Their counterparts have indicated that the 11th Panchen Lama recognized in 1995 by the Dalai Lama and who has been since then removed by the Chinese authorities, would be allowed to speak publicly.
The Senators expressed their wish that the dialogue engaged between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government could lead to an agreement before the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.)