Federal Assembly Switzerland
Interpellation: Violation of fundamental human rights in Tibet
Submitted by Mrs. Tiana Angelina Moser, Green Liberal Party
Delivered text
In view of the grave situation in Tibet I request the Federal Council to draw its attention to the following questions:
1. What kind of insights did the representatives of the Swiss Ambassador in Beijing gain during their visit in Tibet in September 2011 and June 2012? What does the Federal Council intends to undertake based on these facts?
2. Did the Federal Council address the human rights situation in Tibet during the UN Human Rights Council meeting in September 2012 as it announced earlier?
3. What kind of possible signs of solidarity is he considering to support the Tibetan population in Tibet?
Statement
Since 2012 over 95 self-immolations of Tibetans have occurred. 12 self-immolations happened 2011 and over 82 in 2012, whereof 28 self-immolations took place in November. This self-sacrifice, as a reaction to the worsening human rights situation in Tibet are to be found in all sections of the population.The victims’ calls for freedom, cultural and religious self-determination as well as the numeral student protests remain unheard by the world public.
As a reaction to the self-immolations and protests the Chinese government considered it as a necessity to increase its military presence and to tighten its laws, which have an impact on the victims’ immediate family and friends as well. Arrests, intimidations and other kinds of reprisals through Chinese officials are common. Furthermore the Chinese government accuses the Dalai Lama and the government in exile as the agitators for the self-immolations, whereas both repeatedly claimed for a peaceful and conversational conflict resolution.
Additionally to the daily violation of fundamental human rights, such as the freedom of religion or assembly, China isolates Tibet more and more from the outer world. Even for tourists it is getting difficult to visit Tibet.
In Tibet the human rights situation is dramatic and has to be considered equally by the international community.
Cosignatories
Mrs. Doris Fiala, FDP. The Liberals
Mr. Roland Fischer, Green Liberal Party
Mr. Oskar Freysinger, Swiss People’s Party
Mr. Josias F. Gasser, Green Liberal Party
Mrs. Ursula Haller Vannini, Conservative Democratic Party
Mr. Stefan Müller-Altermatt, Christian Democratic People’s Party
Mr. Martin Naef, Social Democratic Party
Mrs. Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter, Christian Democratic People’s Party
Mrs. Marianne Streiff-Feller, Evangelical People’s Party
Mr. Thomas Weibel, Green Liberal Party
