Oslo: As the Fifth International Conference of Tibet Support Groups is due to begin today in Brussels in the absence of the much expected presence of the exiled Tibetan leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetans and Tibet supporters continue to raise concerns and condemnations against the Belgian Government.
The Dalai Lama had to cancel his visit to Brussels towards the last moment at the request of the Belgian Government, which cited its predicament on account of China’s pressure.
The Norwegian Tibet Committee (NTC) and its supporters on Wednesday wrote an open letter to the Belgium Foreign Minister, and the same was also sent to Embassy of Belgium (Norway), Norwegian Foreign Ministry and Norwegian Parliamentarian Group for Tibet expressing disappointment over the Belgian Government’s decision to keep the Dalai Lama out of the conference and has called the move an unethical.
The letter, dispatched by NTC on behalf of the Tibetan Community in Norway and their supporters, states “Belgium Government has yet again apparently sacrificed the Belgium people’s freedom and dignity for some short -term Chinese monetary gain”.
The committee has also sent copies of the letter to the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kashag (Tibetan Government in Exile) and Office of Tibet London.
Following is the copy of the letter sent by Norwegian Tibet Committee to Belgium Foreign Minister
H.E Mr Karel De Gucht
Foreign Minister of Belgium
Brussels, Belgium
9 May 2007
Your Excellency,
The Norwegian Tibet Committee and all our supporters and others are shocked to learn that because of pressure from the Chinese government, the Belgium government has requested the His Holiness Dalai Lama not to attend the 5th International Tibet Support Groups Conference to take place in Brussels from 11-14 May 2007.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with all his kindness and compassion has accepted your government’s request. However, for the government of Belgium to bow down to the Chinese government’s pressure is most unfortunate. It is also something which we cannot imagine from a free and democratic country like yours. One must never give way to a big bully tactic.
As you will be aware, so far at the invitation of all the four International Tibet Support Groups Conference held in different parts of the world, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has always attended these important international conferences. In fact during the last International Tibet Support Groups Conference held in Prague in 2003, the then President of the Czech Republic, Dr Vaclav Havel, had also addressed the conference.
We are therefore disappointed and concerned that the Belgium Government has yet again apparently sacrificed the Belgium people’s freedom and dignity for some short -term Chinese monetary gain.
We hope you will review your policy on welcoming His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who is highly respected all over the world as a messenger of peace and has also been honoured with the highly coveted Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
We look forward to hearing from you with a positive response.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely
Chungdak Koren
Chairwomen
Cc:
Embassy of Belgium (Norway)
Norwegian Foreign Ministry
Norwegian Parliamentarian Group for Tibet
Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Khasag (Tibetan Government in Exile)
Office of Tibet London
