Mass Lobby of UK parliament March 10th

Tibet Mass Lobby calls for an increase in UK’s diplomatic presence in China and Tibet and questions the effectiveness of British

 
Building on the success of last year's inaugural Tibet Mass Lobby, where 300 lobbyists, including well over 100 from the Tibetan community, descended on Westminster, a coalition of Tibet support groups are calling on their members and supporters to take part in a second Mass Lobby on 10 March.
 
This year, 10 March sees the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising in Lhasa. It is a day when Tibetans worldwide, both inside Tibet and in exile, mourn those who have lost their lives in the 51 year struggle for justice. Karma Chura-tsang from Tibetan Youth UK summed up the depth of feeling and commitment felt by Tibetans, saying, “Today is a day to celebrate the strength of the Tibetan people and their perseverance and to renew our resolve to fight for our country until Tibet is once again free.”
 
The situation inside Tibet remains tense. Since the outbreak of widespread protests and demonstrations in March 2008, there have been continued acts of Tibetan resistance and non-compliance throughout Tibet and Tibetan areas. A recent example being when Tibetans in the Amdo region of Tibet (birthplace of the Dalai Lama), defiantly flouted the Chinese authorities with public prayer ceremonies and firework displays to celebrate the meeting between President Obama and the Dalai Lama. Recent reports indicate that a new "strike hard" campaign was launched by the Chinese government in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) on 2 March leading to further restrictions and clamp downs.

"There is a powerful new movement growing in Tibet. It is being lead by the younger generation and they are using creative, non-violent tactics to challenge China's occupation of their homeland", said Padma Dolma, Campaigns Co-ordinator of Students for a Free Tibet UK. "On March 10th, we will stand with our brothers and sisters in Tibet and send a message to the Chinese government that Tibetans are united in our struggle to regain our country and win our freedom."
 
Pempa Lobsang, Chairman of the Tibetan Community in Britain, which represents over 500 Tibetans living in the UK, added, "Even after 51 years of brutal oppression by the Chinese government, the spirit of the Tibetan people is stronger than ever and our support ever strengthening. There will come a time when China must truly face up to its responsibilities and work towards resolving the Tibetan issue. To my fellow Tibetans and to our supporters, I urge you to continue the fight, to never give up for our time will come and when it does, we must be prepared!"
 
Commenting on the Tibet Mass Lobby and the British government’s position on Tibet, Philippa Carrick, CEO of Tibet Society, said, “the government keeps affirming its support for the Dalai Lama and his ‘Middle Way’ approach, but despite urging China to engage with representatives of the Dalai Lama on points of substance, never follows up these good intentions with any substantive actions of its own that will bring tangible progress to the Tibetan people. This is why a coalition of UK Tibet groups are asking their members and supporters to join the Mass Lobby and call on the government to show their commitment by taking meaningful actions, such as establishing a British consulate in Lhasa. For the government to continue congratulating Beijing on simply holding yet another round of non-substantive talks is verging on window dressing and does nothing to move the issue of Tibet forward.”
 
This year also marks another anniversary - one that is to be condemned rather than celebrated - 60 years of China’s occupation of Tibet. In drawing attention to this, Stephanie Brigden, Director of Free Tibet, said, “World opinion strongly opposes China’s 60 year occupation of Tibet. A recent CNN poll showed that a majority of Americans believed Tibet should be free. Here in Britain we are lobbying to express our opposition to China’s ongoing brutal occupation. And inside Tibet Tibetans continue to use every opportunity to courageously show their resistance to China’s illegal occupation of their homeland. China must stop showing contempt for world opinion and end its brutal occupation of Tibet now!”
 
On Saturday 6 March, during the Tibet Freedom march in London, members of the coalition of Tibet support groups delivered an open letter to the new Chinese Ambassador, His Excellency Liu Xiaoming, requesting a meeting to discuss the current situation in Tibet.
 
A letter was also handed in to 10 Downing Street for the Prime Minister, which outlined the two Lobby Asks: calling for a British consulate to be established in Tibet and questioning the effectiveness of British foreign policy of engagement with China, saying, “These recommendations aim to press your government to stand by its commitment to protect and promote the human rights of the Tibetan people and seek a meaningful solution for Tibet.”

From a coalition of UK Tibet support groups
[London UK, Tuesday 9 March]