DHARAMSHALA, May 6: 52 Members of the European Parliament urged Mrs. Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs to raise the issue of Tibet with Chinese leaders during her metings with Chinese leaders in Beijing. Mrs. Mogherini is currently in Beijing for the 5th China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue from 5 to 6 May.
The Parliamentarians from six political groups wrote to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs last week stating that the arbitrary detention, arrest and torture of peaceful Tibetan protestors in Tibet were matters of great concern. They said 204 Tibetans had been arrested or sentenced to various prison terms since the new European Parliament was convened on 1 July 2014. Further, 6 Tibetans died in prison or immediately after release and 7 self immolations by Tibetans.
This is Mrs. Federica Mogherini’s first visit to China since taking over as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
The European Parliamentarians reminded Mogherini of the June 2012 resolution on the human rights situation in Tibet adopted by the European Parliament. The resolution mandated the EU High Representative to address the human rights situation in Tibet at every meeting with the representatives of the People’s Republic of China.
The 52 Parliamentarians urged Mogherini to pressurize leaders in Beijing to resume the stalled dialogue process between China and Representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. There has been no official contact since January 2010.
The EU legislators said that the EU must call for a substantive and constructive dialogue, which addresses core issues like preservation of the Tibetan language, culture, religion and traditions.
The Eu parliamentarians also said that China must respect the freedom of expression, association and religion of the Tibetan people and an immediate end to the continued crackdown in Tibet. They called for the release of all Tibetan political prisoners including Panchen Lama, who disappeared since 17 May 1995.
