Buddhist teacher calls for EU recognition of Tibet government

Date: 13/03/03

THE EU should formally recognise Tibet's 'government-in-exile', according to a Buddhist teacher who was imprisoned for 38 years.

Takna Jigme Sangpo is urging the Union's governments to heed a July 2000 European Parliament resolution on Tibet, occupied by China since 1951. It calls on member states "to give serious consideration" to acknowledging the Dalai Lama-led administration as the "legitimate representative of the Tibetan people".

At that time, MEPs said this step should be taken unless the UN succeeds in brokering an agreement on the long-term status of Tibet between Beijing and the Dalai Lama by this summer.

"I believe the EU has potentially a bigger role to play in finding a solution to the Tibetan problem," said 76-year-old Takna.

He was speaking during a visit to Brussels where he addressed a cross-party group. "I don't see any reason why the EU should not be lecturing China on the issue," Takna said. "It's due to the lecturing of the West that the human rights concept has been cultivated."

Takna was imprisoned for demanding Tibetan independence. He was finally released in March 2002 and now lives in Switzerland.

The EU should formally recognise Tibet's 'government-in-exile', according to a Buddhist teacher who was imprisoned for 38 years for demanding Tibetan independence.