Thomas Mann
Photo: europarl.europa
The Tibetan Intergroup (TIG) in the European Parliament (EU) held its 100th meeting on February 19. The meeting was attended by around 200 people, including Members of Parliament (MEPs). The occasion, marked by mixed cultural events, was also the site for important political statements and for laying the ground for moving forward in the China–Tibet dispute. The Dalai Lama, speaking through a message read out by Thomas Mann, President of TIG, emphasised, “the Tibetan issue is not only about the political rights of the Tibetan people, but also about matters that impact humanity at large.”
Intergroups are informal committees established within the EU to allow MEPs of any political community to hold exchanges on particular topics. Established in 1989 by French MEP, Michel Hervé, the TIG is one of the oldest Intergroups. Part of the aim of this meeting was to urge the EU to take a stand in the Tibet–China dispute. In the words of the Dalai Lama, taken from a detailed statement: “The situation in Tibet at present is grim. Tibetan culture remains under threat. Meanwhile, the Chinese authorities are relentless in their suppression of any sign of protest or dissent. And yet, it seems the greater the suppression, the stronger is the Tibetan spirit of resistance. The only lasting solution will be when the Chinese Government addresses the Tibetan people’s aspirations so they can be resolved through equitable negotiations. … I hope bodies like the European Parliament can find ways to encourage China in this direction.”
Panelists at the 100th Tibet Inter Group Meeting in the European Parliament
photo tibet.net
Among topics raised were the Tibetan Lawsuit in Spain. Both Mr Alan Cantos, Director of Comite de Apoyo al Tibet and Dr Jose Elias Esteve, lawyer for the lawsuit, spoke passionately about how political pressure to abandon the lawsuit undermined the democratic value of Spain and the EU. Esteve emphasised, “international crimes must not go unpunished” and urged Spanish political parties to campaign against the reform introduced by the Spanish government to curb the lawsuit.
Also officially launched at the meeting was the International Campaign for Tibet’s “2014 for Tibet”, which urged a pledge for MEPs running for the next EU election to take a stand for Tibet at the next European Parliamentary mandate, should they be elected.
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