Parliamentarians call on Czech Govt to Formulate Policy on Tibet
Tuesday, 24 June 2008, 9:47 a.m.
Tseten S Chhoekyapa,(3rd from right) His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Representative in Geneva, with Czech MPs for Tibet in the Czech Parliament/Photos: Office of Tibet, Geneva |
Prague: The Czech Government
should formulate a constructive and substantive policy to help move
forward the talks between Representatives of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama and China on Tibet during its EU Presidency, said Jana Hybaskova,
member of the European Parliament from Czech Republic.
She called on the Czech government to draw up policy on Tibet, which
should call for time bound and agenda driven talks between
Representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and China. The round
table discussion on Tibet was organised by President Havel Library in
Prague on 19 June.
Speaker after speaker expressed concern about the present
situation in Tibet and after the Olympics. They called on the Czech
government to take an active interest and stand on the Tibetan issue
during the EU Presidency.
Tseten S Chhoekyapa (L) meets Czech President Václav Havel (R) |
The three hours discussion was informal yet tense and
passionate. It was attended by two Czech Ministers, Czech and European
Parliamentarians, senior government officials, journalist and opinion
leaders.
A member of the local Tibet Support Group spoke briefly on the
present conditions in China, a Sinologist on the current economic
development in China and rise of nationalism.
Tseten S Chhoekyapa, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Representative give
a short introduction on Tibetan history, the recent uprising and the
brutal crackdown, the deaths and arrest of Tibetans. He appealed to the
Czech people and government to take a strong stand on Tibet during
Czech Republic’s EU Presidency which starts next year.
A Chinese lady from mainland China, currently living in Prague said
that after the sad incident in Tibet, there has been a rise in
nationalism in China. However, she said the best outcome was the great
amount of discussions that is taking place worldwide about the problem.
She said whether a better understanding between cultures could help the
situation.
A small Tibetan shrine (Chorten) installed at an airport in Prague |
Chhoekyapa said that His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
the Central Tibetan Administration supports the Beijing Olympics.
However, the Chinese security forces are killing and arresting Tibetans
in Tibet today. He said morally it will be difficult for Tibetans and
Tibet supporters to keep quiet about the suffering of the Tibetan
people while the Olympics take place in China.
Soon after becoming the first democratically elected President
of Czechoslovakia, President Havel invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama
officially. Since then, many various Heads of governments and Foreign
Ministers have met His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Similarly, Chhoekyapa
called on Czech government to take the moral high ground because Czech
has experienced over 40 years under Communism and next year it will be
50 years of Communist rule in Tibet. Unlike many other countries, Czech
Republic has little trade ties with China.
He said that Tibetans are not asking the Czech government to
support Tibetan independence but to support a non-violent struggle that
calls for a genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people so that Tibet’s
ancient culture, religion, language and identity are preserved.
Katharina Jacques, head of the All Party Parliamentary Group
for Tibet in the Czech Parliament spoke about the support for His
Holiness the Dalai Lama and concern at the present tragic situation in
Tibet. She highlighted the very successful campaign of hosting Tibetan
National Flag in over 260 town halls in Czech Republic. One can see
many Tibetan flags across Prague. A large Tibetan flag hangs from a
private building next to the Czech Foreign Ministry. The All Party
Parliamentary Group for Tibet consist of about 26 core members of which
includes 3 members of the Czech Government’s Cabinet.
–Report filed by Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, The Tibet Bureau, Geneva