Tibetan Parlimentary & Policy Research Centre

Dr. Laima Andrikiene, M.P., Lithuania: Good day to all of you who have come here to the Second World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet.

On behalf of the organising committee, I welcome all of you to Vilnius, especially those who have come from foreign countries, particularly those whose have travelled a long distance — from New Zealand, Japan, etc. — to be with us today.

We are expecting Indian parliamentarians and we are delighted that representatives of the United States Senate and Congress are with us. And we welcome all of you who came from the European countries. We hope that this convention will be very fruitful.

To open the convention officially, I invite our priest, the Reverend Grigas, to the floor for the convocation for suffering nations.

Reverend Alfonsas Grigas: I have been invited here as a Catholic priest in a Christian country to start the convention with a prayer. This is not very usual in our secularized century. But there are enough reasons for this. This convention seeks to defend the right to existence of physically small nations and a convention like this is attended by people who uphold the principle of the right to existence, no matter what religion we practice, Buddhism, Islamism or any other.

God knows that the situation in Lithuania at one time was very similar to that of Tibet. We had to fight for our right to be a creative and useful nation. I do not think we will change if we prosper. But I pray that our nation always understands those who suffer and those who are persecuted.

We live in a world, which is quite cynical as the fate of the Tibetan people or the Chechen people shows. We pray that God gives us love and strength so that our consolidated efforts change the world. We pray that God gives us enough wisdom and strength in order to enable us to fight for people who are suffering, so that the persecution of a people is never considered the internal affairs of a particular country.

Amen! Also, I invite the participants of the convention to stand up and pay respects to those Tibetans who suffered and those who were killed after the occupation of Tibet by China. Thank you.

Dr. Andrikiene: To continue our official opening, I would like to welcome those who are gathered here, particularly the representatives of Tibet who are present in this convention: Minister of the Tibetan Government -in-Exile, Mr. Tashi Wangdi; Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations, Mr. Tempa Tsering; Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Central Europe and the Baltic States. We are delighted that we shall be able to be with you all these days.

I would like to inform all of you that the Chairman of the Tibetan Parliament, Professor Rinpoche, is coming tomorrow. Even if there was a design to prevent Rinpoche from coming here, I hope this design fails and from tomorrow onwards Professor Rinpoche will be working with us at the convention.

I would also like to inform you that although parliamentarians from some countries could not come due to various circumstances, we have received quite a number of appeals and statements of support from parliamentarians, organizations and individual from various countries.

Please allow me to read some of these:

Joint message of the Presidents of the Parliamentary Study Group on the Question of Tibet of the National Assembly of the French Republic and the Parliamentary Friendship Association for Tibet of the Senate of the French Republic:

On behalf of the 157 Deputies and 32 Senators, who are members of the National Assembly and Senate support organizations, we join you to salute the courage of the Tibetan men and women who sacrificed everything for the principles of non-violence, for their country, for their religion and culture. Their example demands our support and encouragement in defence of their survival.

At this time, it is very important to ensure that Tibetan women have access to the United Nations World Conference on Women, which will take place in Beijing in September, and that they be not excluded.

Our relations with China are important, but it should not be normalized at the expense of the principles of freedom and fundamental rights which are enshrined in our constitution.

We fully support His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Five Point Peace Plan, presented to the U.S. Congress in 1987 and to the European Parliament in 1988. We call on our parliamentarian colleagues to intensify our co-operation to more efficiently support the Tibetan people's rights.

Long live the right of Tibet to self-determination!

(This letter is dated 24 May 1995 and signed by Deputy Loise de Broissia, President of the Tibetan Parliamentary Study Group on the Question of Tibet; and Senator Jacques Golliet, President of the Parliamentary Friendship Association for Tibet.)

All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, United Kingdom
As Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet in the House of Commons, I send my apologies for my absence at this very important conference and also my best wishes for its success.

Tibet continues to suffer destruction of her culture and her people are living under oppression — we must continue the struggle for self-determination in which the international community must play its full part.

I also hope your discussions are fruitful and that through this event the plight of Tibet and its people is given the attention it so rightly deserves.

(This letter is dated 25 May 1995 and signed by George Stevenson, M.P.)

Dr. Andrikiene: I would like to add that Lord Ennals wished to come to Lithuania. But his ill-health prevented him from coming here. If you agree with me, we can send him a letter — our best wishes, and hope that next time his health will not prevent him from being with us.

I would like to remind you briefly why this convention is taking place in Lithuania and why the title of the convention is as you see it on the programme, i.e., Tibet: Saving A People From Annihilation.

The first World Parliamentarians' Convention took place in New Delhi, India, two years ago. And there were representatives from 25 parliaments. At the time we adopted a resolution and action plan consisting of ten points. We discussed the possible venues for the second convention. Then, one of the candidates was Lithuania.

We are delighted that this convention is taking place in Lithuania because; there are a lot of parallels between the history of Tibet and Lithuania. The Lithuania Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet is the largest among all the parliamentary groups for Tibet. It is larger than the British and French parliamentary support groups. This shows that the Lithuanian Parliamentarians and people are really concerned about the future of Tibet.

You have the programme of our convention. We now have to discuss the right to self-determination of the people of Tibet, the current situation in Tibet, as well as what can be done by joint efforts — how the situation can be changed as well as the aspect of foreign policy, whether the independence of Tibet will destroy the balance of power in Asia. We can also adopt a resolution which is expected of us by the people of Lithuania as well as by journalists. This would serve as a guideline for our future action.

I think it is time now to give the floor to the former Head of State, President of the Supreme Council of Lithuania, now the Leader of the Opposition, Professor Vytautas Landsbergis, for the keynote address of the convention.

Professor Vytautas Landsbergis: Distinguished Representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, dear parliamentarian colleagues and guests, I have been slightly misled by the text of the invitation which said that the official language of the convention will be English. Therefore, I am going to speak in English and I will request the interpreters to interpret accordingly.

It is a great honour and pleasure for me to welcome you here in Vilnius to enjoy your presence and wish you the most fruitful work.

I remember, early in 1991, I stated that Iceland was the most independent Western country. Today we are here, really independent parliamentarians from many countries, to discuss one of the most painful problems of the world.

It is a pity that the Lithuanian Parliament, which met His Holiness in 1991 as the highest guest of spiritual authority radiant from Tibet, and enjoyed His Holiness' soul and wisdom shared directly with Lithuania, the same Parliament today is closed to parliamentarians of the world. If allowed, I would like to express my personal sorrow.

You will speak here about politics and international law, about human rights, environment and the changing world. In what direction is that world changing? If indeed it is for the better, how great are the losses? Can they be justified by any reasons? In my mind is the wish to help not only Tibet, but to help China too. The way of non-violence and peace is not an easy one, especially for those who have the force to back violence. If our advice of goodwill were heard there, beyond the Great Wall, if would help to breach the wall of misunderstandings.

Tibet is not unique in its tragic fate. But Tibet is unique in its spiritual and cultural heritage and importance for all of mankind. What would be done to find ways to preserve and continue that unique soul, spirit and wisdom? It is an issue above all the political motives and arguments.

The day will come to look for a way not from a distance, but together with China. Now we can only suggest for the peoples and nations not to lose the awareness of the difference between evil and good.

Dr. Andrikiene: If any of you want to read statements or addresses which you have brought with you from your parliaments, or on behalf with you from your parliaments, or on behalf of your political party, I will request you to read them now.

Pieor Verni reads the message of Adelaide Aglietta, MEP: I would like to express that I have not been able to be here in Vilnius due to a health condition. But I send my best wishes to all the parliamentarians and the representatives of the Tibetan people who are present in this conference. I pray to my close friend and my advisor on the Tibetan issue, Mr. Piero Verni, with whom I share years working closely in the field of defending the rights of the Tibetan people, to represent me in this World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet. He will briefly inform you about the works that I am doing and will participate to find the new initiatives to enable us to strengthen and resolve the difficult and delicate issue of Tibet.

The last possible reason why Tibet could be a part of China is a theory that exists in international law, although it is somewhat questionable; that if something, whether legitimate or not, last long enough, it gains some legality at some point.

The next year, perhaps the next month, could be crucial for Tibet. Also the most expert China Watchers cannot say with certainty what the political situation in China will be after the passing away of Deng Xiaoping: whether the situation worsens or improves, in the sense the new Chinese leadership will concede some democratic reforms. The Tibetan people, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and their Government-in-Exile will need stronger support than now.

According to my opinion, foreign supporters of the Tibetan cause should help Tibetans to create links with all the parts of the Chinese society that oppose the present Communist regime. The so-called national minorities — the Mongols, Uighurs, Manchus, etc. — the movements of democratic students and all the people fighting for democracy and human rights.

I think the struggle for self-determination and freedom of the Tibetan people will lead to some political alliances with all the dissidents opposing the Beijing Government. During the past European Parliament, I had been actively involved in resolutions condemning human rights abuses in Tibet and China. I had also been the Rapporteur on the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security or Relations between the European Union and the People's Republic of China. And I had been to China and Tibet as a member of an official delegation of the European Parliament.

During these activities, it came to my notice that few European parliamentarians have a real knowledge of the actual situation in Tibet. To contribute updated knowledge on various Tibetan issues, from October 1994 I started to publish Tibetan News, bi-monthly newsletters in the English and Italian languages, covering the happenings in and outside Tibet. Copies of these newsletters are available to every parliamentarian or political organization interested in the Tibetan issue. It is also published in the newsletter of the Transnational Radical Party. I think the members of the Group on Tibet in the European Parliament must strive to take initiatives to impart knowledge on Tibetan issues among other parliamentarians. From my side, I am trying to produce a video documentary relating to the political struggle of the Tibetan people.

In conclusion, I would like to propose to create an international group of parliamentarians who will keep close and permanent contact with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his Government-in-Exile to be ready to put into practice extraordinary actions at the United Nations or other places to attract the awareness of governments and public opinion to the Tibetan issue. The first such action could be organized on the occasion of the Fourth World Conference on Women, being held in Beijing in September, where Tibetan women's representation has been excluded.

Thank you very much and once again I send you my warm wishes.

Dr. Andrikiene: Some time earlier, before this convention started, we received a letter from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is addressed to the members of the organizational committee, and to all the participants of the convention. I would like to invite Mr. Tashi Wangdi to read this letter.

Kalon Tashi Wangdi, Minister, Tibetan Government-in-exile, Dharamsala, India: President Landsbergis, Chairperson Dr. Andrikiene, members of the steering committee, distinguished parliamentarians from different parts of the world, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

Before I have the honour of reading His Holiness the Dalai Lama's message to the conference, I would like to take this opportunity to express, on behalf of my delegation, our deep appreciation to the organizing committee for organizing this very successful Second Convention of World Parliamentarians on Tibet. I know it involves a great deal of work and dedication. I am sure that the next two days of deliberations will be worth your efforts.

I wish also to express our deep gratitude and appreciation to President Landsbergis. As he mentioned, soon after Lithuania regained its independence, he invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama as one of his first guests to this country. President Landsbergis has not only championed the cause of freedom and independence of his own people, but he continues to champion the cause of downtrodden people all over the world. His words of address at the inaugural session will be a great inspiration to all of us. He has correctly said that the issue of Tibet can be resolved through peaceful and non-violent means and that it can be resolved through joint efforts of the Tibetans and Chinese. This is the wish of His Holiness the Dalai Lama also.

Unfortunately, at this point of time, Tibet, with its nation, its people and unique culture, is on the threshold of total annihilation or survival. And we feel that it can be only saved by raising your voice against the cruelty, inhumanity and injustice, which is being perpetrated. This second convention of the world parliamentarians, I am sure, will be major step in this direction.

As His Holiness often said, in Buddhism we have three refuges: the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. But in the Tibetan Political struggle, we have to have a fourth refuge, which is the international community. Your voice will make a difference as to whether this ancient nation and its people will survive or not.

Now I will have the pleasure of reading His Holiness the Dalai Lama's message, addressed to Chairperson Dr. Laima Andrikiene:

Thank you for your letter of invitation to inaugurate the Second World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet from May 26-28, 1995.

I am pleased to learn the preparations for the convention are being carried out with dedication and conscientiousness. It is also encouraging to learn that prominent personalities from the fields of culture, religion, education and sciences are supporting the convention by becoming members of the preparatory committee.

I regret that my tight travel schedule makes it impossible for me to journey to Vilnius. In May and June 1995, two visits to Europe are scheduled: one in the beginning of May and the second in the middle of June. Despite our best efforts, it has not been possible on the part of host organizations to re-schedule the dates for these visits to coincide with the date for the World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet.

However, I would like to express my sincere appreciation and share my thoughts on the issue of Tibet in a message to the participants of the convention. Moreover, I will instruct some members of my Cabinet and our Parliament-in-Exile to represent us at this important international gathering.

I take this opportunity to thank you and members of the preparatory committee for their dedication and support.

The World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet plays a vital role in the protection of the survival of the Tibetan nation, with its unique cultural heritage and in enhancing the prospect for a just and negotiated solution to the issue of Tibet.

With my best wishes and prayers for the success of the convention.

Lauri Vahtre, M.P., Estonia: In a sense, we represent the conscience of our nation. There is no freedom and peace in the world as long as things like in Tibet can happen. Tibet is the heart of Asia and when you kill the heart the body will be heartless. But sometimes things next to miracles may happen. We Baltic nations know it.

Dear Tibetans, I bring you the best wishes from Estonia.

Juris Sinka, M.P. Latvia: On behalf of the Latvian support group in our Parliament, I would like to express great pleasure that the second parliamentary convention of the world on Tibet is being held in the country of our brother-nation, Lithuania. That, in itself, is a great achievement due to your efforts, I am sure, Madam Chairperson. I am glad that your authorities have allowed us to meet in this place.

I remember last year in Delhi several delegates had to send their apologies because they could not arrive. There was one, and I am reminded of the Nepalese delegate, who got as far as New Delhi at the hotel. And I understand the delegation was put under house arrest and could not get to the venue of the convention.

Nations like Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and now the Chechen nation have suffered under the arbitrary rule of the bigger and stronger nation. One feels that there is a mesh of something evil that surrounds us all and yet we manage to scrape through. And scraping through is the means like this convention. And I am very, very glad that this convention has taken place and that evil does not get the upper hand. I hope the third convention will take place and some of those who could not manage to get here will be there.

Yes, I remember also that the Estonian delegation was refused tourist visas. We in Latvia have been trying to support the Tibetans, the Chechens, and also other oppressed peoples. And we do not always succeed completely. Nevertheless, when we enter the Council of Europe or the West European Union, or various committees, we do manage to remember Tibet, Chechenya, and other oppressed peoples.

From one point of view, last year was certainly not the happiest year for Latvia, because we were under direct pressure from Beijing to break our ties with the Consulate General of Taiwan. And, of course, although our president went to Beijing, I think that he, in his mind, was not all that happy with the present persecution of the political dissidents in China, which he was able to express.

There are different opinions amongst us whether that is the best way of influencing the Chinese Government at this moment. It still has to be debated. Nevertheless, I hope Latvia will not become forgetful of its own past, its own suffering and its moral obligation to support other nations, which are still under the yoke of other nations. I can only express the hope that in the next century the expression "Might is Right" will be reversed to "Right is Might".

Henryk Wujec, M.P., Poland: I welcome you on behalf of the Polish parliamentary group on Tibet. We, the members of the Polish Parliament, declare that we are convinced that every nation has equal rights to preserve its freedom, identity and cultural heritage. We call on the People's Republic of China to stop this persecution of Tibetans and begin dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the political and spiritual leader of the Tibetan nation.

For us members of the Polish Parliament who come from the Solidarity Movement, the greatest Eastern European movement defending the nation's political and civic rights, this particular phase of Tibet lies in the middle of our concern. During the Lithuanian anti-Soviet revolution, the Polish independence movement gave its support to Lithuania. I was here in 1990-1991 to support your struggle. Now our support for the aspirations of the Tibetan people may be recognized as an act of obvious human solidarity towards those who do not feel secure in their own country, who feel forced to live in exile, and who finally lack the basic human right: the right to choose.

All countries have different political and economic interests towards China. We understand this. But having said this, I have to mention that the future will show us all, and this is my detached concept, that we can sacrifice some of our interests for the most important values known to human beings: freedom and independence. And I and my friends from Poland - Mr. Borowik and Mr. Potocki, who was in Delhi too - will do everything possible to make our government recognize the Tibetan authorities in exile, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, spiritual and political head of the Tibetan nation, as the full guarantors of a future democratic organization.

Let me state that those of you who have gathered here are worthy of our great admiration and we all hope that the day will come when we all shall gather in Lhasa.

Ms. Kara-Kys Arakchaa, Tuva, Russian State Duma: Today I am here as a representative of the Tuvian people. My Republic, small Tuva, is at the very heart of Asia. Our religion is Buddhism, the Yellow Sect of Lamaism. This root connects us very closely with the Tibetan people. In 1992 Tuva was visited by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He consecrated our flag and a very important building.

At that time, our people expressed support to the Tibetan people's struggle for freedom and independence. When the Dalai Lama addressed a rally, the inhabitants of our city held banners with a slogan, "Freedom to Tibet".

I thank the organizational committee for the invitation to attend this convention. I also extend my gratitude to the Representative of the Tibetan Centre and their help and assistance, which enabled me to participate here.

Ole Johs. Brunaes, M.P., Norway: This is the most important continuation of the World Parliamentarians Convention in New Delhi in March 1994. Parliamentarians from around the world are invited to discuss further steps for the important and peaceful struggle for self-determination and human rights for Tibet and the Tibetan people.

The Chinese destruction of the Tibetan environment is a serious attack on the health and natural resources of Tibet. The settlement of millions of ethnic Chinese in Tibet destroys the traditional Tibetan landscape and threatens the Tibetan people's national, cultural and religious identity.

Tibetans do not use weapons in their struggle for human dignity and survival. They use arguments, law and peace under the wise political and spiritual leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The world community has a moral obligation to support the Tibetans in their struggle. The Nobel Peace Prize and other highly deserved awards to His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a continuous process of strengthening the international awareness of, and support for, the non-violent Tibetan struggle for freedom.

Let us hope that this World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet will contribute to increased international awareness of the situation in Tibet and lead to increased pressure on the Chinese government to respect the human rights and self-determination in Tibet and to accept negotiations without pre-conditions with the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.

Lithuania and other Baltic States have had bad experiences of occupation by an external force, with cruel damage to their countries as a result. Your country is today free and democratic with a huge task to help this nation. Therefore, the All-Party Support Committee for Tibetans in the Norwegian Parliament warmly appreciates that the Lithuanian Parliamentarians supported the Tibetan struggle for freedom by organizing this convention.

Michael Ferris, M.P., Ireland: Coming from Ireland, as you know, we have had a history of struggling and struggle against probably one of the most powerful empires of its day, and we had to struggle to gain our freedom. As a result of that struggle, Ireland's sympathies are always with small struggling people and the nations of the world, which are still struggling to gain recognition. We have been sympathetic to Tibet, and indeed to Lithuania, for very many years. We have never recognized the annexation of Lithuania or indeed the other Baltic States.

In Ireland, we have a very articulate and active Tibet Support Group. It has access to the Parliament's Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, of which I am a member. And Mrs. Kesang Takla, His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Representative for Europe, is a regular visitor to Ireland. Indeed, recently she visited Ireland with the Venerable Palden Gyatso, a Tibetan monk who was imprisoned in Tibet for 30 years. Both of them visited the Irish parliament in the past few weeks. As a result, the Foreign Affairs Committee has raised important questions with the Foreign Minister, and particularly relative to the question of the use of torture and the manufacture of instruments of torture.

In September, last year, my party leader, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland and Minister of Foreign Affairs, had a long discussion with the Chinese Vice President, the Foreign Minister of China, and discussed with him at length the question of Tibet. He reminded China of its obligation to Tibet in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which provides for the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom from arbitrary detention.

Ireland's delegation to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has also been very active in the work on the EU's draft resolution on human rights in China. And at the 54th session in Geneva, this year, the resolution specifically addressed the cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious identity of the Tibetans.

This year, a delegation from the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs will travel to China at the invitation of the Chinese. As Chairman of the European Affairs Committee, I hope to be also a member of that committee on foreign affairs who will travel to China. And I will personally raise the question of Tibet with my Chinese counterparts.

Ireland and Lithuania are living proofs that small nations and people do achieve their rights, and we-hope that Tibet will also have this great good fortune soon.

A Delegate from East Turkestan, President of the Interstate Uighur Association: As a representative of the Uighur nation in East Turkestan, I welcome you. In the so-called Xinjiang Autonomous Region, the Uighurs comprised 93 percent of the population; that was a long time ago. And now the proportions of the Uighurs and Chinese have changed considerably. Now, the Uighurs, like the Tibetans, are in the minority in their historical homeland. The violation of human rights is going on in all directions. First of all, the mass transfers of Chinese population from the central region

Environmental pollution happens all the time. There was a conference in New York on NPT, which concluded on 12 May. A few days later, China conducted the 42nd nuclear test, and there are ecological diseases in our region on a massive scale. Just like in Tibet, the policy of birth control imposed by Beijing decreases the birth rate. The culture and language policy and the militarization of the national bordering regions have had catastrophic results on our people. Because our culture and religion have been destroyed, there are only 30 Islamic shrines that are open and all kinds of other problems are very acute there.

I am deeply grateful to the organizers of this conference and the parliamentarians of Lithuania. I am deeply grateful to Mr. Landsbergis for his speech. We know very well about his activities during the independence struggle of the new State.

I extend my best wishes to the Tibetan people in their struggle for independence and freedom. Eastern Turkestan is also fighting for independence in a peaceful and non-violent way.

Mrs. Aminat Saijeva, Foreign Ministry Representative of Chechenya based in Lithuania: In this forum, I represent the government of the Chechen Republic. As you all know, war has been raging in my homeland for more than half a year. And to come to Lithuania for this convention from the Chechen Republic was impossible. I accepted the kind invitation of the organizational committee and I am deeply grateful for this.

I welcome all the guests at this forum and I welcome the guests from Tibet. I wish you all success today. I hope for resolutions to the problems of Tibet, which are of great concern to justice-loving people. I hope the problems of the Chechen people will also be given attention.