New Delhi — Members of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile concluded their three-day Tibet advocacy campaign by meeting over 80 Indian politicians, including three ministers and 79 members of the Indian Parliament. They appealed to them to recognise Tibet as an occupied nation with a distinct and sovereign past backed by historical evidence.
After Members of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) held its three-day strategic meeting and protocol training, scheduled for December 13-15, 2024 in New Delhi, India. Members of the TPiE actively advocated for Tibet from December 16 to 18, 2024. In these three days, they reached out to key figures including one Union Minister, two Ministers of State, 79 members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha from various political parties, as well as an independent candidate and president nominated, representing a broad spectrum of states and dignitaries.
A delegation of 29 Tibetan parliamentarians, including Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, has initiated these advocacy efforts on December 16, 2024. Organised into six committees with the first committee consisting of Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, MP Geshe Monlam Tharchin, MP Youdon Aukatsang, MP Tashi Dhundup, and MP Tenzing Jigme.
The second committee with Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, MP Dawa Phunkyi, MP Kunga Sotop, MP Lobsang Thupten, and MP Thupten Gyatso and the third group with MP Dawa Tsering, MP Tenpa Yarphel, MP Rigzin Lhundup, MP Wangdue Dorjee, and MP Pema Tso.
The fourth committee had MP Tenzin Jigdal, MP Tenpa Yarphel, MP Tsaneytsang Dhondup Tashi, MP Tsering Yangchen, and MP Phurpa Dorjee. And the fifth group had MP Lopon Thupten Gyaltsen, MP Lhagyari Namgyal Dolkar, MP Geshe Atong Rinchen Gyaltsen, and MP Choedak Gyatso. The sixth group was consisted of MP Migyur Dorjee, MP Geshe Lharampa Gowo Lobsang Phende, MP Tsering Lhamo, MP Lobsang Gyatso Sither, and MP Thondup Tsering.
The committees have engaged with 82 Indian politicaians in these three days, including Shri Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs of India, Shri Ramdas Athawale, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, and Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, 79 members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha from various political parties, including MP Shashi Tharoor, MP Tapir Gao and MP Sujeet Kumar. They also met an independent candidate and president nominated, representing a broad spectrum of states and dignitaries.
During the meeting with the MPs and Ministers, an eight-point appeal letter was submitted to them. In the letter, the Tibetan Parliamentarians appealed that Tibet should be recognised as an occupied nation with a distinct and sovereign past, supported by historical evidence. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) should engage in meaningful dialogue with representatives of the Dalai Lama or elected Tibetan leaders to resolve the Tibet-China conflict under the Middle Way Policy, seeking genuine autonomy within China’s constitution.
They also appealed that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) should initiate studies on the environmental impact of China’s exploitation of Tibet’s resources and its contribution to global climate change. Independent human rights organisations must be granted access to monitor the human rights situation in Tibet, and UN Special Rapporteurs should be invited to visit. China must also release all Tibetan political prisoners, including Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama. The PRC should cease its policies aimed at eradicating Tibetan culture, language, and religion.
Additionally, urging that a national legislative framework should be established to combat China’s authoritarianism and disinformation campaigns, which threaten democratic institutions and global stability. Legislators must raise awareness and express concerns about human rights violations in Tibet on all available platforms.
Its aim is to raise awareness of the serious challenges faced by the Tibetan people under the Chinese Communist regime. These include the Chinese government's elimination of Tibetan identity, culture and language, forcibly sending Tibetan children to Chinese colonial-style boarding schools, closing Tibetan-run schools, arresting Tibetan teachers and writers, and so on. It also aims to express gratitude to the government and people of India for their hospitality in hosting His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan refugees since 1959, and to encourage Indian Parliamentarians to join the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPFT) and to raise Tibet issues through the members of the APIPFT.
The All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPFT) and the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) convened a meeting on December 17, 2024, to discuss key issues concerning Tibet and they adopted a 12-Point Resolution on Tibet at the meeting.
The following are the 12 points were adopted at the meeting:
- Enhance reach out to different political parties.
- Raise Tibet issues in the Indian Parliament by the members of All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPFT).
- Programs to be organised during the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (Compassion Year), in collaboration with the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE).
- Recognise Tibet as an occupied nation with its own independent and sovereign past, backed by historical evidence.
- Urge the People’s Republic of China to engage in substantive dialogue with representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, or democratically elected leaders of the Tibetan community without preconditions, aiming to resolve the Tibet-China conflict through the Middle Way Policy and seek genuine autonomy within the PRC’s constitution.
- Climate Change Research: Call upon the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to initiate scientific studies on the PRC’s exploitation of Tibet’s natural resources and its adverse effects on global climate change.
- Human Rights Monitoring: Pressure China to grant independent human rights organisations access to monitor and report on the human rights situation in Tibet. Additionally, extend standing invitations to UN Special Rapporteurs, especially those focusing on freedoms of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association, and human rights defenders, to facilitate their visits to Tibet as soon as possible.
- Release of Tibetan Political Prisoners: Urge the PRC government to unconditionally release all Tibetan political prisoners, including Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, whose whereabouts and well-being have been unknown since May 17, 1995.
- Halt Oppressive Policies: Call on the PRC to cease its oppressive policies aimed at eradicating Tibetan culture, language, and religion.
- Legislative Framework Against Authoritarianism and Disinformation: Establish a national legislative framework to combat China’s networked authoritarianism and disinformation campaigns, which erode public trust in democratic institutions, increase political polarisation, and threaten regional and global stability.
- To urge the legislators to express their concern and raise their voice over the human rights violations in Tibet at all the available platforms.
- Any other matter with the permission of Chair.
