17 August 2006
UK Parliamentarians report on Tibet
UK Parliamentarian(ICT) The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom has said: "The Chinese assertion that the Dalai Lama advocates Tibetan independence flies in the face of public statements made by the Dalai Lama". It has recommended that the British Government continue to press the PRC on the issue of the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet. This conclusion and recommendation are contained in the seventh report of the Committee that was made public in July 2006. The report was compiled after committee members visited Tibet and China, met Chinese and British government officials and heard from expert witnesses as well as from the Office of Tibet in London. Committee members visited Lhasa and Tsethang from 13-15 May 2006 and met the Abbot and Management Committee of Sera Monastery, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of the TAR, Vice Chairman of the Government of the TAR, Deputy Mayor of Lhasa Municipal Government, Officials from the Development and Reform Commission, Public Security Bureau and Environmental Protection Bureau, TAR, Tsering, Deputy Director-General of the Working Committee of the People's Congress of Lhoka Prefecture, and the Abbot and Management Committee of Samye Monastery. The Select Committee has said "Freedom of religious belief and worship in Tibet remains significantly restricted". It added that China's appointment of a Panchen Lama "is a serious abuse of the right of freedom of religion" and has recommended that the British Government press China to respect the right of the Tibetan religious leaders in choosing the next incarnation.