International Parliamentary action on Tibet

In recent years, parliaments and governments around the world have begun to take action on behalf of Tibet. A representative selection of some of the major resolutions and motions that have been passed is given below. (Statements on Tibet from the British Government, European Parliament, and the US Senate and Congress are included in separate Free Tibet Campaign Information Sheets.)

Council of Europe

5 October 1988

In written declaration No. 173 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, 13 members appealed to the Chinese Government 'to promote the peace process in Tibet, respecting the human rights of the Tibetan people, [their] culture and civilisation.'

Belgium

4 April 1994
The Belgian Parliament passed a resolution urging the Belgian Government to press the Chinese authorities to stop the violation of human rights in Tibet and the transfer of Chinese population into Tibet, to release all Tibetan prisoners detained for their political and religious convictions, to stop the deforestation and the dumping of nuclear waste in Tibet and to start negotiations with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.

(West) German Bundestag

15 October 1987
The Bundestag unanimously passed a resolution calling for the Chinese authorities to respect human rights in Tibet, to respond to the Dalai Lama's attempts to achieve constructive dialogue, to take steps to preserve Tibetan culture and religion, and to release all political prisoners. The resolution also urged the West German Government to provide aid for Tibetan refugees, and to grant scholarships for Tibetans to study in German schools and universities.

November 1990
The Bundestag unanimously passed a resolution calling on the German Government to raise the subject of the human rights situation in Tibet at the United Nations, urging the Chinese Government to lift martial law in Tibet, and supporting efforts to send an independent international commission to investigate Tibet's human rights situation.

20 June 1996
The Bundestag unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Chinese Government to improve the human rights situation in Tibet, to abandon policy which leads to the destruction of Tibetan culture, and to open negotiations with the Tibetan Government-in-Exile about the autonomy of Tibet.

Italian Parliament

12 April 1989

The Commission of Foreign Affairs approved a motion urging the Italian Government to make enquiries into the current situation in Tibet, to undertake action to put an end to human rights violations and environmental damage, and to come to a peaceful resolution of the Tibetan problem, while at the same time safeguarding Chinese foreign policy and defence interests.

Lithuanian Parliament

27 February 1992
Deputies of the Lithuanian Supreme Council established a Tibetan Parliamentary Support Group, and Members of Parliament signed a statement acknowledging His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile as the true representatives of the nation of Tibet.

Australian Parliament

9 March 1989
Ninety-five Members of Parliament signed a petition marking the 30th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising, and called for human rights to be respected and for the People's Republic of China to respond constructively to the Dalai Lama's proposals for discussions.

6 December 1990
The Australian Senate unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Chinese Government to recognise the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people, and to enter into negotiations with the Dalai Lama. The Senate also called on the Australian Government to continue making representations to China on allegations of human rights abuse in Tibet.

10 November 1994
Senate passes a motion in support of Tibetan human rights, immediately following visit by Chinese leader Qiao Shi. The motion supports Tibetan women seeking accreditation to the 1995 UN Women's Conference in Beijing.

29 June 1995
The Senate passed a resolution asking the Minister for Foreign Affairs to urge the United Nations not to censor a quotation by His Holiness the Dalai Lama from its 50th anniversary publication.

Senate also passed a resolution calling on the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make representations to the Chinese Government and to the Secretariat of the 4th World Conference on Women to allow women from Tibet who are accredited to NGOs to attend the Conference, and to urge the Chinese Government to ensure that adequate facilities be provided to the NGO Conference.

Canadian Senate

14 June 1995
A resolution was passed without opposition calling upon the Senate to encourage negotiations between the People's Republic of China and representatives of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile without preconditions, and instructing the Senate to urge the Government of Canada to "extend support to Tibetan people in their struggle to regain their freedom and the preservation of their culture".

Indian Lok Sabha

 23 August 1988
A memorandum signed by 212 MPs, including one government minister, was presented to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, "fully supporting the Dalai Lama's Five-Point Peace Plan, which is an historic step towards resolving the important question of Tibet, alleviating the suffering of the Tibetan people and relieving regional tensions."

Parliamentary Groups for Tibet

There are now All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Tibet registered in the following countries: Britain, France, Italy, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Lithuania.