Dharamshala: Last Wednesday, September 5, the Core Group for Tibetan Cause joined the ‘Global Tibet Advocacy Action', a global effort to build pressure on world governments by submitting a memorandum to the Foreign Affairs Minister to call for greater multi-lateral action on China over Tibet.
Due to the inadequate international response over the Tibet crisis, Pro Tibet campaigners have started to criticise world governments. They have thus launched a campaign, the ‘Global Tibet Advocacy Action', to seek greater multilateral action by international governments over the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet.
In a coordinated action, advocates across the world are pressing Foreign Ministries to act for Tibet in conjunction with other governments during the forthcoming United Nations Human Rights Council and General Assembly, both of which meet in September.
International Tibet Network's Asia regional office assisted in coordinating this campaign.
Dr NK Trikha, National Convener of the Core Group for Tibetan Cause expressed his disappointment with the international community for failing to protect Tibetan people from gross human rights violation.
"Previous inaction by world governments and international bodies has allowed the crisis in Tibet to worsen with now more than 50 individuals choosing to set light to themselves in protest against Beijing's harsh rule." Dr Trikha also stated that India needs "to urgently undertake stronger, more coordinated, multi-lateral action on Tibet and seek a long overdue solution to this spiralling tragedy."
There was a substantial boost in August of calls for more visible multi-lateral action on the situation in Tibet, including a letter to Hillary Clinton from two US Congressmen. The letter suggested the US government host an international conference on Tibet, convene periodic public meetings on Tibet and hold discussions with other governments during the UN General Assembly about setting up a contact group.
Before submitting the memorandum to the External Affairs Ministry, the Core Group members met with six members of the parliamentary standing committee on External Affairs. They requested for their support in the Tibet issue and the need for a multi-lateral action in the forthcoming committee meeting with the External Affairs Ministry. They also requested parliamentarians to invite Kalon Tripa Dr. Lobsang Sangay to the committee to discuss the triangular relations between India, Tibet & China.
Referring to the recent string of self-immolations, Mr Vijay Kranti, National Co-convener of the Core Group for Tibetan Cause said that although it is a sad event, it strongly reveals the real truth about the Tibetan situation.
"It proves that Tibetan's desire for freedom, their deep faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the commitment of the people of Cholka Sum to see Tibet free once again. Since most of these self-immolations have happened outside TAR, it clearly exposes the Chinese falsehood that only TAR is Tibet."
In the last twelve months there have been as many as 48 self-immolations inside Tibet, with about seven alone in the month of August 2012. Up until now 51 such protests have occurred, of which at least 42 are confirmed dead.
