[London] Despite a deafening public silence from the British Government, British MPs have tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in Parliament, titled "Unlawful Shooting of Tibetans". The EDM refers to Chinese Border Police firing on Tibetan refugees at Nangpa la near the Nepalese border on September 30 this year, killing a young Tibetan nun, Kelsang Namtso, and a male Tibetan youth. Around a further 30 of the refugees, including children under the age of 10, were arrested and their circumstances remain unknown. In stark contrast to the UK Government's official stance of public silence, the EDM uses strong wording to describe the "brutal and unlawful" murder of the two Tibetans and urges the Chinese Government "to give a formal assurance that such abhorrent and unacceptable acts will not happen again". (1)

"The British Government's public silence on the atrocity at Nangpa la is shameful," said Matt Whitticase of Free Tibet Campaign. "Although the Government has confirmed in letters to our supporters that it is taking up the matter 'bilaterally and through the EU' this stops way short of a strong public condemnation that would reflect the shock felt by the British public at the events they saw televised on the BBC, ITN and other networks. Blair's persistent refusal to criticise China on its human rights record has undoubtedly helped foster the growing impunity with which China abuses the Tibetan people's most fundamental rights" he continued. "In the continuing absence of a public rebuke from the British Government, Free Tibet Campaign urges MPs to support the EDM and express their revulsion at China's murdering of defenceless Tibetan refugees at Nangpa la."

In August this year, following its visit to Tibet, the House of Commons East Asia Foreign Affairs Committee (2) recommended that the Government "raise human rights at the highest level with Chinese counterparts" and that it should "not flinch from making public statements". Despite the horrific events at Nangpa la, however, the Government continues with its stated policy of private engagement with China through its bilateral and EU human rights dialogues. Human rights groups believe such a policy has largely failed in influencing China to improve its human rights record.

Contact: Office 020 7324 4605, Matt Whitticase (07904 063 746), Ya'el Weisz-Rind (07733 393 773)

Notes to Editor:

(1) The EDM was tabled by Harry Cohen MP and two working days after its introduction it had been signed by 27 MPs. The full text can be seen at:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/Search.aspx. Its reference number is 227 which should be typed into the search engine.

(2) House of Commons East Asia Foreign Affairs Committee Report, 13 August 2006. The report can be seen at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmfaff/860/86002.htm.

End