Norwegian Foreign Secretary Mr Raymond Johansen will visit Tibet this weekend Mr Johansen was only allowed to visit Tibet himself if he agreed to travel without a Norwegian press corps.
“I did so, because I feel it’s important to get an impression of the situation in Tibet, therefore I didn’t want to cancel the trip” said Mr. Raymond Johansen.
Johansen said he also felt it was important to demonstrate to the Chinese officials that Norway remains highly interested in Tibet.
Mr Raymond Johansen tried several times to get the Chinese to change their minds and allow journalists to accompany him, but was turned down. Johansen never was given a reason as to why reporters are not being allowed with him into Tibet.
After his visit to Tibet Mr Raymond Johansen will be leading delegation of about 40 Norwegian politicians, civil servants and experts on China for the annual Norway/ China Human Rights dialog next week. The annual “round-table” discussion will take place October 30-31.
Also included in the delegation are representatives from Norway’s Supreme Court, the national legal and medical associations, the trade union federation LO, the employers’ group NHO and Amnesty International.
The rights of workers, prisoners and minorities are high on the agenda.
Norway has had human rights dialog with China since 1997. China has similar discussions with the EU twice a year as well.
Report by Chungdak Koren, Norwegian Tibet Committee
