Virtual meeting of members of Parliamentary Group for Tibet in the (Seimas) Lithuanian Parliament hosted by Hon. Dr. Andrius Navickas MP and chair of APPGT and Hon. Madam Laima Andrikiene MP and deputy chair of APPGT on 5 March 2021.
London: A virtual meeting of members of Parliamentary Group for Tibet in the (Seimas) Lithuanian Parliament hosted by Hon. Dr. Andrius Navickas MP and chair of APPGT and Hon. Madam Laima Andrikiene MP and deputy chair of APPGT on 5 March 2021.
The meeting was joined by MP Romualdas Vaitkus (Liberal movement) MP Arūnas Valinskas (Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats), MP Andrius Kupčinskas (Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats), Vytis Vidunas, Ruta, Leva, Diana and Andrijna from Tibet support groups and Representative Sonam Tsering Frasi and Mrs Tsering Tsomo from Office of Tibet, London.
APPGT Lithuania called the meeting to discuss information regarding developments in Tibet, forthcoming Tibetan elections as well as other Tibet-related issues.
The meeting began with sharing warm greetings and then the Deputy chair MP Liama welcome all to the 2nd online meeting of the Parliamentary Group for Tibet since the establishment of the group in November 2020 in the Office of Seimas, Lithuanian Parliament.
Madam Laima informed that the members of the Group had their first online group meeting on 12 February to celebrate Tibetan Losar together and to discuss priorities and tasks of APPGT.
Representative, Mr. Sonam Tsering Frasi thanked the parliamentary group and Tibet supporters for extending solidarity and support for Tibet in times of need. Mr. Frasi informed the members about the upcoming 62nd Tibetan national uprising day on 10 March and welcome solidarity statements and message from MPs.
He also informed the meeting about the Office of Tibet planning for the activities in the run up to COP26 in Glasgow. He welcomes members participation in the side events during COP26 to create awareness about Tibet’s climate change and its impact.
Mr. Frasi also talked briefly about the upcoming general election of Tibetans in April 2021. Members showed great interest in knowing the Tibetan election process and asked who were the final candidates running for President and Europe MP. They mentioned that they are closely following the Tibetan elections.
Mr. Frasi then introduced Mrs. Tsering Tsomo to the members and invited her to share recent developments on Tibet and give an overview of the current situation in Tibet. Mrs. Tsomo updates the news about the recent UK and European Union called upon China to address the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet. She further updates on Tibet Policy and Support Act 2020 passed by the US government in December 2020 and highlight the important points in the law.
Mrs. Tsomo reported some pressing human rights violations in Tibet, including repression of religious freedom and mass military-style labour training of Tibetans. She highlighted the case of the recent death of Kunchock Jinpa, a tour guide in Tibet, who died in a Chinese prison after spending seven years imprisonment and also informed the case of Panchen Rinpoche, 2nd highest spiritual leader of Tibet.
Members asked about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s health and conveyed their greetings to His Holiness.
They also raised questions related to the upcoming Tibetan election, Beijing 2022 Olympic and alternative strategies in relation to China. All questions were answered.
Finally, deputy chair madam Laima thanked everyone for joining in the meeting.
- Filed by Office of Tibet, London
