Brussels accused of weak stance on Tibet

By David Cronin

Date: 20/11/03

THE EU envoy for the Dalai Lama, the Buddhist spiritual leader, has criticized the Union's institutions for failing to adopt a common stance on Tibet.

While Kelsang Gyaltsen applauded the support which Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso has received in various resolutions passed by the European Parliament, he lamented that this "strong concern is not at the moment adequately reflected in the policies of the EU Council and Commission."

In an interview with European Voice, Gyaltsen said the Union needs to appoint a "special representative" to deal with Tibetan issues. He or she would play a similar role to Paula Dobriansky, who has been appointed by Secretary of State Colin Powell as America's special coordinator on Tibet.

MEPs have backed the proposal but it has not won the requisite support from EU governments. France is jittery about the idea, fearing that EU-China trade could be hurt if the Union takes a more strident approach with Beijing over its clamp-down on Tibetan political activists.

"Many analysts think that the growing partnership in the economic field is one factor for the EU not raising issues of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in a more effective manner with China," said Gyalsten. "But we believe you can have friendly relations and strong economic links with China, and at the same time also pursue a constant policy on these issues.

"At the end of the day, a democratic and peaceful China would be a better place for investment and trade."

The benefit of Washington's decision to have a special coordinator on Tibet, argued Kyalsten, is that the plight of Tibetans is "firmly on the agenda of Sino-US relations".

Kyaltsen, who is based in Switzerland, visited Brussels last week to meet European Parliament President Pat Cox.

He urged the EU team due to take part in the latest session of the ongoing human rights dialogue with China on 26 November to make a strong intervention on Tibet.

This follows a recent admission by External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten to the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee that Tibet did not feature prominently at the 30 October EU-China summit.

Pro-Tibet campaigners have called on Italy's EU presidency to urge China not to carry out a death sentence imposed on Buddhist leader Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche.

He and a farmer, Lobsang Dhondup, were convicted of "splittist activities" and causing explosions in Sichuan province. The latter was executed in January this year, the first Tibetan to be executed for a politically-motivated offence in more than 20 years.

Kyaltsen also said it is misleading of Beijing to convey the impression that the Dalai Lama wants outright independence for Tibet. He pointed out that when the spiritual leader addressed MEPs in 1988, he explained he was seeking autonomy for Tibet and respect for his people's culture, religion and identity but that it would remain part of China.

"Since then His Holiness has been repeating the position like a mantra," Kyaltsen added. "Nevertheless, the Chinese government continues to accuse him of seeking independence and being engaged in "splittist activities."

China invaded Tibet in 1950, claiming it was liberating it from western imperialism. In 1959 a popular uprising was brutally suppressed with the deaths of at least 87,000 Tibetans.

The Dalai Lama and 100,000 of his followers fled to exile in India, which he has used as a base ever since.

Interview with Kelsang Gyaltsen, the European Union envoy for the Dalai Lama.