CTA Pressures Government of India to Act on Tibet

By Peter Newman / July 31, 2014;

The Tibetan Parliamentary delegation meets H D Deve Gowda, former prime minister of India in New Delhi
Photo: Tibet.net

Outreach by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) intensified again this month when a delegation of Tibetan parliamentarians conducted a week-long campaign aimed at pressuring India’s government to take a more aggressive stance on Tibet.

Beginning on July 14, the Tibetan delegation met over 28 members of India’s Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament), including former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, 13 party leaders, nine former Union Ministers, and five former Chief Ministers. The Tibetan delegation briefed Indian leaders on the crisis in Tibet, highlighting issues such as restrictions on political and religious freedom, forced resettlement of nomads, rapid environmental degradation, and Tibetans’ increasing demographic marginalisation. Following the briefings, Indian leaders were urged to join the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum on Tibet; to pressure India’s Foreign Affairs Committee to facilitate a meaningful development of India’s Tibet policy; to push for a resumption of Sino-Tibetan negotiations and to encourage their government colleagues to support the Tibetan cause.

The delegation’s policy recommendations were submitted to the Government of India in the form of a 5-point petition on July 16. The petition calls upon members of India’s government to: 1) call for China to end its restrictions and abuses of human rights; 2) demand that international media and United Nations fact-finding missions be given unfettered access to Tibet; 3) pressure China to resume negotiations with the CTA and the Dalai Lama; 4) Persuade the Indian Parliament to intensify diplomatic and international pressure on China and 5) encourage the Indian Government to prioritise the Tibet issue in its relationship with China.

Although coverage of the meetings has presented little evidence to suggest that a genuine reinvigoration of Indian advocacy for Tibet is imminent, the CTA reports that the delegation was widely met with warm receptions and promises of ongoing support from the Indian leaders.

The week-long lobbying campaign occurred amidst a period of intense political and public awareness outreach by the CTA: the months of May and June alone saw similar campaigns effected by CTA delegations dispatched to Europe and Japan, as well as campaigning to advocate the Middle Way Approach.