By Tsering Tashi
Brighton, September 30 – The five-day ruling Labour Party Annual Conference ended today evening in this UK seaside tourist city with delegates returning home with a certain awareness of the lingering issue of Tibet thanks to the visible presence of the Tibet Society of UK and the Free Tibet Campaign stands at the conference complex. This was capped by the question on Tibet that Emilie Hunter, coordinator of the UK Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) raised yesterday during the open “International question time on arms, conflict and human rights” fringe meeting organised jointly by IPPR, Channel 4, Amnesty International, Oxfam and Saferworld. Emilie’s question focused on the Chinese government’s recent propaganda criticizing Britain’s 1903 invasion of Tibet and her curiosity to know the British government’s reaction. Interestingly, Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell, a panel member to whom the question was primarily addressed said that he was not aware of this Chinese move and that he would be looking into it.
Operating information stands during such important conferences whilst attending relevant fringe meetings and making an effort to shake hands and engage in some conversation with the ever-busy delegates that include ministers, party members, observers and journalists have proved to be effective means to bring the issue of Tibet to the notice of people who actually matter and are influential. It is for these reasons that the Tibet Society, like many other organisations throughout UK has for the past few years taken part in the annual Labour Party conferences.
“I think it is always a useful tool to create awareness and support for Tibet and we had a good interest among the delegates,” said Philippa Carrick, head of the UK Tibet Society.
Both the Tibet Society and the Free Tibet Campaign were able to distribute information leaflets about the Tibet issue to delegates and answer questions from those taking special interest in a particular campaign or subject. The Free Tibet Campaign’s effort to especially encourage people to stand beside a life-size photo of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche for a digital photo session as a symbol of support to free the religious leader imprisoned by the Chinese authorities also attracted a few prominent figures including a former cabinet member. According to the London-based Free Tibet Campaign, Rinpoche is due to be executed by
2 December for a crime that he did not commit and so they are planning in advance to display their petition of thousands of faces outside the Chinese Embassy “to ensure China knows the world has not forgotten Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche.” Since his arrest on 7 April 2002, Tibetans and others in the free world have expressed their concern about the plight of Rinpoche who has not only been denied a fair trial but also the right to see his family and followers.
