Tibet supporters call on Tony Blair to mark centenary of British invasion of Tibet with a major push for dialogue and an apology.

Free Tibet Campaign is preparing to welcome Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to the UK (9 to 11 May) by asking, "When will Wen free Tibet?" Wen, who was appointed Premier in March 2003, will meet leaders in five countries as part of his European tour. Wen's visit will be followed in a little over two weeks by that of the 14th Dalai Lama, who arrives in the UK on 27 May. "Diary pressures" prevent Tony Blair meeting the Dalai Lama.

The significance of these visits is heightened by 2004 being the centenary of Britain's own invasion of Tibet, 45 years prior to China's invasion and continued occupation. Seeking to counteract Russian influence and locate stockpiles of weapons in Tibet, British forces under the leadership of Francis Younghusband advanced on Lhasa during 1904, embarking on a series of battles with the Tibetan army that left more than 3,000 dead. Ironically, the episode marked the beginning of what Tibetans regard as a special relationship between Tibet and the UK. To mark the centenary, thousands of Tibet supporters have sent postcards to the British and Chinese Prime Ministers, calling for a resolution to China¹s occupation of Tibet.

"These two visits present Tony Blair with a historic opportunity to promote a peaceful resolution to China's invasion of Tibet," said Alison Reynolds. "A strong signal of the seriousness of his intent would be for the Prime Minister to acknowledge Britain's invasion of Tibet with an apology."

Ms Reynolds went on, "China of course owes the Tibetan people a much more substantive apology. We urge Tony Blair to ask Mr Wen to make a step in the right direction by inviting representatives of the Dalai Lama to Beijing to continue their dialogue, and dropping China's pre-conditions to negotiations over the future of Tibet."

Chinese media claim that among Wen's objectives for his European tour will be the lifting of the EU's 15 year-old embargo on the sale of arms to China. The embargo, imposed after Tiananmen Square, has become a point of controversy within the EU. Campaigners maintain it is too soon to reward a government that has yet to demonstrate its commitment to improving human rights. "China claims the EU Arms Embargo is a 'relic of the Cold War', a rich statement coming from a nation that clings to the colonial era with its occupation of Tibet," said Ms Reynolds.