Solidarity Campaign in Brussels for Tibetans inside Tibet

Brussels: Today, six Tibetan families living in Switzerland began their 67^th Solidarity Campaign in Brussels. The campaign was started voluntarily in Switzerland in 2012 calling for international intervention against China’s repressive policies in Tibet.

The commencement ceremony of the campaign was short and solemn. Besides the participating Tibetans, MEP Tunne Kelam from Estonia and his Assistant, Representative of Bureau du Tibet and EU Advocacy Officer, president of Tibetan community in Belgium and other representatives of Tibetan Associations were present.

Mrs Chodon Thaktsang, spokesperson of the group, introduced the campaign and gave details about the current human rights situation in Tibet. She said, “due to the absence of space for conventional forms of protest against the repression in Tibet, today Tibetans are resorting to the tragic act of self-immolation. Since 2009, 147 Tibetans have self-immolated of which 126 are known to have died following the protest”.

Mr Kelam expressed his solidarity for the campaign. Recalling Estonia’s over fifty years experience under Communist Soviet regime, he said, he and his people completely relate with Tibetan issue. He called upon the European External Action Service (EEAS) to take active view of the situation in Tibet and help find ways to ameliorate the Tibetan tragedy.

Representative Tashi Phuntsok commended the participating Tibetan families for their individual contribution to the common cause of Tibet. He expressed his happiness for the Office of Tibet being able to assist the campaign.

Meanwhile, EU Advocacy Officer Rigzin Choedon Genkhang escorted Mr Thaktsang Kunchok, representative of the group to handover their letter to Mr Stavros Lambrinidis, EU Special Representative for Human Rights. Ms Derya, Senior Policy Officer, EEAS, accepted the letter on behalf of his office.

Mr Karma Tsering, President of the Tibetan Community, Belgium, addressed the gathering to express appreciation of the campaign and recalled the tragic situation prevailing inside Tibet today.

The campaign calls for cessation of demolition of Larung Gar and Yachen Gar, for EU to send independent experts to Tibet, for Chinese government to reveal the whereabouts of 11^th Panchen Lama and urge China to enter into a substantive dialogue with the representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Tomorrow, the campaign will move to Place Luxembourg, in front of the European Parliament.

It may be recalled that the group gathers every second Wednesday since 2012 in front of Palais de Nations, in Geneva to campaign for above issues related to Tibet.

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Brussels-