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Dutch Parliament Backs EU Special Representative for Tibet
Dharamsala 23 December: According to a report by ICT Amsterdam, the Dutch Parliament, on the eve of its 2004 budgetary debate, unanimously passed a resolution calling the government for the appointment of a EU Special Representative for Tibet along the line of the US adoption of Special Coordinator for Tibet.
Further, the MPs urged the government to hold discussions with other EU TROIKA partners (Italy, Netherlands and Ireland) in the coming weeks to reach an EU position on the question. Initiated by Democratic 66, MPs expressed strong support for such a position in light of the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet, and in particular, the continued influx of Chinese settlers into Tibet threatening the very survival of Tibetan identity and culture. The government is expected to respond to the call around mid-January, 2004.
Following is the text of the resolution
Adopted on 18 December, 2003
Second Chamber of the Parliament-Tweede Kamer
Having deliberated thereupon and:
Considering that the human rights and environmental situations in Tibet have seriously worsened during the past year;
Considering that China's demographic policy, whereby forced sterilisations are carried out upon Tibetan women and large numbers of Chinese people are being deliberately relocated in Tibet, is resulting in the cultural and economic marginalisation of the Tibetan people;
Considering that monasteries have been destroyed in recent years, that monks and nuns have been expelled, that death sentences have been imposed upon ethnic Tibetan for alleged political offences and that arbitrary arrests and unfair trials have been commonplace;
Considering that it is of great importance that a dialogue be initiated between China and Tibet, and that the issue of Tibet has been insufficiently addressed within the context of the dialogue on human rights between the European Union and China;
Considering that the United States has appointed a Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, who is making active efforts to bring about a dialogue between the Chinese government and the Tibetan government in exile;
And considering that Special Representatives for certain regions, but not Tibet, have been appointed at the European level;
Hereby requests the government to call for the appointment of a Special Representative for Tibet at the European level.
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