By Paul Kidner
BRUSSELS – The European Parliament once again tried to put Tibet on the EU’s political agenda after a meeting of the Forum on Tibet on Wednesday.
The Forum called for the implementation of a 1998 resolution on the appointment of an EU Special Representative for Tibet.
“EU leaders have not raised the issues of … Tibet but we cannot airbrush the problems out. The appointment of a Special Representative is something we support”, said Hans-Gert Pöttering, leader of the European People’s Party.
According to Pema Jungney, Chairman of the Tibetan Government in Exile, “the Special Representative’s mandate would be to network within the EU leadership and facilitate meaningful and substantive negotiations between Dharamsala and Beijing so that the issue of Tibet could be solved to the satisfaction of all concerned”.
The Dalai Lama’s “middle way” approach on Tibet, has been to call for a peaceful resolution to the Chinese occupation, which began in 1949.
“The very identity of Tibetans is at stake, let alone our unique culture, religion and language. If no solution is found as soon as possible, the coming decades will turn Tibetans into something like native Indians in America or aborigines in Australia”.
Chinese anger?
The European Parliament has, over the years, taken some important initiatives on the issue of Tibet. One was the 1998 resolution, which calls for the appointment of an EU Special Representative for Tibet.
Moreover, there is already an EU budget allocation for a Special Representative post. But the Commission and Council are unlikely to move any further on the issue as it will inevitably mean having to face China’s anger.
There is also not much overt support for the parliament resolution taken in 2000, which calls upon member states to give serious consideration to the possibility of recognising the Tibetan Government in Exile as the legitimate representative of the Tibetan People.
The whole issue has been put on the backburner – something which frustrates Mr Jungney.
“We express our disappointment over the failure to mention Tibet and the ongoing human rights abuses there, in the joint press statement issued after the conclusion of the sixth EU-China Summit held in Beijing”.
Elmar Brok, an EPP member who also Chairs the European Parliament’s powerful Foreign Affairs Committee, added that “the Commission issued a statement in 2003 on relations with China. Little was said on Tibet … and the Parliament feels that this is not enough”.
He added: “The European Parliament takes a view that we must protect such minorities and religious freedoms and that these must exist on the terms of autonomy for Tibet. The EP is in majority agreement on this”.
