By Tenzin Tsering
Dharamsala, June 16 – The Canada Tibet Committee urged Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the heads of other G20 countries to raise issues related to Tibet with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the G20 Summit this month “through their inclusion in the official agenda and side discussions”
The CTC posted on its website a letter it sent to Harper and the heads of G20 nations in the wake of G20 summit to be held in Canada from June 26 to 27.
Pointing out Middle Way Approach, Human Rights in Tibet, Exploitation of Tibet’s Natural Resources and Environment as the underlying concern for discussion in G20 summit on the Tibetan issue, the “Letter to Prime Minister Harper and G20 leaders” was sent on June 4, the 21st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
The CTC said the G20 summit is an “opportunity to rally the support for Middle Way Approach proposed by the Dalai Lama in solving the Tibet issue, which seeks genuine autonomy for the Tibetan nation within the purview of the Chinese constitution. Seven members of the G8 nations had pledged their support towards dialogue between the Chinese side and the Dalai Lama’s envoys for a resolution of the Tibet issue. CTC expressed that G20 summit holds a unique opportunity in encouraging the Chinese government towards an effective reciprocation to the Dalai Lama’s offer.
It urged the G20 leaders to form an “unambiguous representation to President Hu” in persuasion of the protection of the Human Rights of the Tibetans over “China’s use of the death penalty, lack of fair judicial process, religious repression and continued human rights abuses against the Tibetan people.”
The letter explained the situation of the Tibetan natural resources under the Chinese administration adding that the exploitation of the natural resources by an “occupying state” which according to the Article 55 of the Hague Regulation shows breach of International law by the Chinese government.
The CTC also suggested the participation of the Tibetans in the decision making and management of the eco system, specially the Tibetan nomads.
The letter concluded with a request to the G20 leaders to use the opportunities that the summit provides in making “Tibet a substantive and results-oriented part of the agenda at the G20” and generate real progress towards the realization of the Tibet solution.
