Tibetan Envoy Meets UK Government Officials, Experts in LondonFriday, 10 April 2009, 9:01 a.m.
London: His
Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Envoy for Europe, Mr Kelsang Gyaltsen, left
here Wednesday evening for Switzerland after describing his two-day
official and unofficial meetings and other engagements arranged by the
Office of Tibet as “very productive”. Mr. Gyaltsen, who is
based in Switzerland, had useful meetings with British government
officials to discuss in detail the current sad situation in Tibet under
the repressive rule of the Chinese authorities and also updated them on
the present position of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue to resolve the Tibet
issue. He was assured of the UK government’s continued concern and
support for human rights and a meaningful resolution to the Tibetan
problem. The officials also found the Tibetan envoy’s presentation
informative and helpful. Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen was accompanied at
these meetings by Mr. Tsering Tashi, the London-based Representative of
His Holiness the Dalai Lama.Another noteworthy engagement of
the Tibetan envoy included a discussion session at London’s Chatham
House or the Royal Institute of International Affairs, considered a
world-leading institute for the debate and analysis of international
issues. Mr. Gyaltsen, who is one of the two envoys of His Holiness the
Dalai Lama engaged in conducting talks with representatives of the
Chinese government, spoke there on the status of Sino-Tibetan dialogue
and current situation in Tibet. He later engaged in free and frank
discussion with experts specializing in Tibetan and other international
affairs.Separately addressing a group of Chinese and other
reporters, including those from the Reuters, the Times and the
Guardian, Mr. Gyaltsen while describing the prevailing situation in
Tibet as “an undeclared martial law” said China’s growing economic and
political clout makes it all the more important for the international
community and the European Union to feel more concerned for the human
rights situation in China and Tibet.Replying to a reporter’s
question on the resumption of the talks with Beijing, he said as soon
as a clear and positive signal comes from the Chinese government, the
Tibetan side is ready for the talks “anytime and anywhere”. Mr.
Gyaltsen said following the rejection of the “Memorandum on Genuine
Autonomy for the Tibetan People”, the Chinese government should come up
with their own suggestions so as to seriously address the Tibetan
problem, which, demonstrations since last March that took place in
various parts of Tibet clearly showed to the world how much the
Tibetans long for their freedom and basic rights.He expressed
concern for the plight of the Tibetans inside Tibet and said that if
the Chinese authorities do not have anything to hide, then they should
open up Tibet so that international observers and journalists are
allowed to freely move around and talk directly to the Tibetan people
to access the true situation.He said because of the advancement
in modern technology and regular flow of information it is difficult
for the Chinese government to hide the truth even from their own
people. He said the Chinese people’s interest in Tibetan Buddhism and
show of concern for the just cause of Tibet is growing and that Chinese
intellectuals have even issued public statements in support for His
Holiness’ non-violent approach and lawyers have come up to take cases
of Tibetan prisoners of conscience.During his brief visit to
London, Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen also enjoyed the separate meeting and
interactive sessions that the Office of Tibet had arranged with
Chinese, representative of various Tibet support groups and members of
Tibetan Community in Britain – all of whom valued the opportunity to
hear the Tibetan envoy and his willingness to respond to their
questions, which, he did with remarkable depth and clarity. The
Tibetan envoy last had a fruitful visit to London in October 2008.–Report by Office of Tibet, London
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