By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 27: The Czech ruling party’s submissive measure to curtail China’s displeasure at some senior leaders meeting the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama last week has been severely criticized by opposition leader who told journalists that China is treating the sovereign state of Czech Republic as its vassal.
Following the Dalai Lama to Czech Republic last week where he met a few prominent politicians, China expressed disapproval resulting in President Milos Zeman along with Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and the heads of the two houses of parliament, Milan Stech and Jan Hamacek (Chamber of Deputies)issuing a statement to reaffirm China’s good graces.
The statement reiterated the Czech government’s recognition of “the territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of China of which Tibet is a part”. Further asserting that the Tibetan leader’s meeting with Christian Democrat politicians does not signify a shift in the policy towards Tibet.
In response, opposition leaders accused the incumbent leaders of servility and bending in the face of Chinese government pressure. “One only lacks the deadline by which the Czech Republic must start act accordingly so that the Chinese are not angry. Our four senior officials humiliated the nation, now forcing it to accept the humiliating statement from a country with an undemocratic regime,” TOP 09 leader Miroslav Kalousek said.
“This statement really seems to say that we are China’s vassals, I think that we ought to have kept a certain distance and a stronger national pride,” said Ondrej Benesik, a deputy for the government of Christian Democrats.
The Czech President has also been criticized for allegedly revoking a state honor for Czech-born and Auschwitz survivor Jiri Brady, 88, after his nephew and Minister of Culture Daniel Herman, met with the Dalai Lama earlier last week.
Herman was cited by Reuters as saying, “My uncle informed me he had been contacted by the president’s office with information that his award was being prepared. Now there is news that this has been postponed for this year.” The Minister also disclosed that President Zeman told him that if he met the Dalai Lama, his uncle will not be awarded the honor.
Over 50 members including many right wing and opposition legislators from the two houses of Czech parliament received the Dalai Lama in the Senate last week.
