The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) Asia-Pacific Committee Meeting held from 18-20 November 2005 at Centaur Hotel, New Delhi concluded on Sunday with a promise of absolute support for the Tibetan freedom struggle. Six executive members of Tibetan Youth Congress led by Mr. Lobsang Yeshi (Vice President) represented Tibet at the meeting along with NGO representatives from eleven countries of Asia-Pacific region including Bhutan, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand, accounting for a total of over 40 delegates.
The three day International Meeting was coordinated and chaired by Ms. Jacinder Ardern and Mr. Jason, Vice Presidents of Asia-Pacific Presidium, IUSY, Ms. Tamara Smilevski (Political Officer, IUSY Secretariat) and Mr. Kunwar Danish Ali (President Yuva Janata Dal). Several thematic sessions were held during the meeting including “India and Tsunami: The aftermath and recovery”, “Sustainable Development within Asia-Pacific”, “Capability Building Session-WTO” etc. The delegates also had extensive deliberation on the IUSY political topics including Democratisation, Refugee issue, HIV-Aids, Students Working Groups, Feminist Working Group, Political Campaigning etc. The delegates also had intensive discussions on the amendments for the first IUSY draft on Sustainable Development, agendas for the forthcoming XXVI IUSY World Congress to be held in Denmark in January 2006 and IUSY Festival 2006 to be held in Spain in July 2006.
The present Asia-Pacific Committee Meeting featured a special session on Tibet titled, “Tibet: The last Gulag of the World” by the TYC delegates and “Refugee Issue: Need for International Attention and Solidarity” by Youth Organization of Bhutan. TYC’s presentation began with the detailed history of Tibet and the freedom struggle, categorically referring to the imprisonment of Panchen Lama and Tulku Tenzin Delek and other political prisoners. The hour-long presentation concluded with these remarks,
“Through this welcome sitting, we call upon China to respect the fundamental human rights in Tibet and demand the unconditional and immediate release of Tulku Tenzin Delek, Panchen Lama and other political prisoners of Tibet. The growing greed of the world of having a piece of the huge market and cheap labour inside China has pushed the legitimate concerns of violent disregard to human rights by China and the freedom struggle of the Tibetan people to the backburner. China continues to test the patience of all freedom lovers and challenges the collective moral weight of all humanity.
Today we must look again into our collective conscience, and ask ourselves whether we are doing enough. Are we going to remain mute spectators? All of us have a part to play in promoting basic human rights for all – which alone can guarantee freedom for all. Friends, let us not be found wanting”.
Later a country report on Tibet relating to Chinese illegal occupation of Tibet and its ongoing repressions in Tibet, massive population transfer, environmental destruction, militarization of Tibet and the violation of human rights including the denial of educational rights in Tibet etc. were also illustrated in detail. Besides, the delegates also distributed literatures on Tibet among the delegates and deliberated the young leaders including representative from Taiwan Labour Front, Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth, Malaysia, Mongolian Democratic Socialist Youth Union, New Zealand Young Labour, Philippines Akbayan Youth, Youth Organisation of Bhutan etc. on the Tibetan struggle.
On 19th evening, TYC delegates presented a spirited cultural show titled “Tashi Delek Night” to all the delegates. The display of an array of unique Tibetan traditional costumes and folk dances including the performances from RTYC Students of Youth Hostel, Delhi and members of RTYC Samyeling mesmerized the audience. The show enchanted and evoked the curiosity and appreciation of the delegates from different countries leading to frantic applause and ovations. The show acted as a booster for other delegates to present their respective traditional songs and dances.
On the final day of the drafting of IUSY Asia-Pacific Committee Meeting, several resolutions were adopted. Prominent among these were the resolution on Tibet, Malaysia, Nepal and Bhutan. The resolutions that the IUSY Asia-Pacific Committee Meeting unanimously adopted on Tibet are as follows:
RESOLUTIONS ON TIBET
IUSY Asia- Pacific Committee Appeals:
- To accept Tibet as an independent State and condemn the illegal occupation of Tibet.
- To help restore human rights in Tibet and support the freedom movement of Tibetan people.
- Pushing its members to recognize the India-based Tibetan government in exile, headed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
- Put pressure on China to stop the ongoing genocide in Tibet and lobby for an intentional pressure to demand for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Tibet including Panchen Lama and Tulku Tenzin Delek etc.
- To the United Nations to resume the debate based on its resolution passed in 1959, 1961 and 1965, and appoint a Special Rapporteur to investigate the human rights situations in Tibet.
- To pressurize for the boycott of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as China continue genocide in Tibet and pursue its imperialist ambitions threatening peace in Asia and the world at large.
- To put pressure on China for the restoration of right to education, culture, religion, tradition, employment, health and thoughts and stop demographic transfer of Chinese inside Tibet that turned Tibetan as minorities inside their own country.
- To protest the destruction of Tibet’s fragile yet precious environment through indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources and through construction of politically motivated infrastructures.
The resolution adopted in the Asia Pacific Committee meeting will be forwarded for review and adoption at the forthcoming IUSY World Congress to be held in Denmark in January 2006. TYC delegates will also participate in the World Congress to raise the issue of Tibet on a global platform and to lobby for the support of the world representatives for the resolutions on Tibet.
International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) headquartered in Vienna, Austria, is made up of 143 youth, socialist, social democratic and labour youth organisations from 100 countries all over the world. IUSY was founded over 90 years ago, on 24 August 1907. The goal of the International is to put into practice and defend the ideals of democratic socialism. IUSY fights for freedom, democracy, human rights, equality, and universal solidarity. It also promotes social justice based on the principles of freedom and equality, against authoritarianism, populism and dictatorship
Issued by:
Tibetan Youth Congress
Central Executive Committee
