By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 16: The European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday passed an urgent resolution covering numerous issues, chief among which were the ongoing demolition of the Tibetan monastic university of Larung Gar in eastern Tibet as well as Uyghur economist Ilham Tohti who is serving a life sentence on the charges related to “separatism”.
The comprehensive resolution covered a large ground encompassing various issues related to Chinese policies in Tibet and others such as resumption of dialogue between Beijing and representatives of the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Human rights concerns, persecution of Tibetans for celebrating the 80th birthday of the Dalai Lama, the spate of self immolations in Tibet and heightened surveillance on Tibetans were included in the resolution.
The ongoing demolition of one of the foremost Tibetan learning centers in Tibet, the Larung Gar issue was discussed in relative detail in the motion. It read, “the Larung Gar Institute is currently facing extensive demolition by the Chinese Government with the objective of downsizing the academy by fifty percent, evicting around 4 600 residents by force and destroying around 1 500 dwellings.”
Also commenting on the plight of evicted Tibetans, the resolution mentioned, “the evictees are to be forcibly enrolled in so-called ‘patriotic education’ exercises; whereas three nuns at the academy committed suicide in protest at the ongoing large-scale demolitions at Larung Gar.”
The resolution urged the Chinese authorities to engage in “constructive dialogue” with concerned Tibetan religious leaders in discussing overcrowding concerns and basic facilities in the centre and called for “adequate compensation and the re-housing of Tibetans who have been evicted during the demolitions in Larung Gar at the place of their choice to continue their religious activities.”
Major political groups of the European Parliament such as the European People’s Party (EPP), European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Europe for Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) and the Greens/European Free Alliance proposed the resolution. MEP such a Christian Dan Preda, Elmar Brok, Thomas Mann, Tunne Kelam, Csaba Sogor, Ana Gomes, Molly Scott-Cato, Afzal Khan, Laszlo Tokes, Nathalie Griesbeck, Fabio Massimo Castaldo and many others sponsored the resolution.
In a report filed by Office of Tibet, Brussels, many MEPs who sponsored the resolution have, “either met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his recent visit or they have been met by the Representative and EU Advocacy Officer of Office of Tibet, Brussels, in the recent times”.
