Western Politicians Persuaded to Sign up to China Propaganda

By Rohini Kejriwal / August 25, 2014;

Sir Bob Parker, former mayor of Christchurch, New Zealand
Photo: Xinhuanet.com

China has persuaded world leaders and politicians into signing the “Lhasa Consensus”. This is a document that undermines what the Dalai Lama stands for as well as painting a picture of the reality faced by the Tibetan community which is at odds with the news coming out of Tibet and the results of extensive research undertaken by international human rights organisations.

The document was produced at the end of a two-day symposium in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, the Fourth Forum on the Development of Tibet. It saw China’s much criticised development policy in Tibet being praised by the 100+ foreign delegates who attended it from across 30 countries, including China, India, Britain and the United States.

The document implies that the participants unanimously agree that what they have actually seen in Tibet differs radically from what the 14th Dalai and the “Dalai clique” has said and that the “clique’s statements” on Tibet are distorted and incorrect. It also states that many Western media reports are biased and have led to much misunderstanding.

In addition, it mentions that the participants “notice that Tibet enjoys sound economic growth, social harmony, deep-rooted Tibetan culture and beautiful natural scenery” and that “ordinary people in Tibet are satisfied with their well-off lives, good education, sound medical care, housing and various social securities.” Ironically, as the meeting was taking place, China’s security forces shot peaceful Tibetan protesters in Kardze, severely injuring 10.

The claims were challenged by only one of the participants –the former mayor of Christchurch, New Zealand, Sir Bob Parker. It is likely that other international participants, including Austrian, Irish and Japanese political figures, will also reject the statement issued in their name.

Free Tibet, the UK-based group that campaigns against China’s occupation of Tibet, has said that foreign participants should have been aware that the conference, organised by China’s ruling Communist Party, was going to be a deeply political affair. Criticising the praises of Beijing’s economic policies by Lord Davidson of Glen Clova, a Labour party front-bencher in the House of Lords, Free Tibet released a lengthy statement explaining that mass Chinese immigration has shut Tibetans out of their own economy, leading to a variety of socio-economic problems.

The forum was sponsored jointly by the propaganda arm of the Chinese government, the Information Office of the State Council and the regional government of Tibet Autonomous Region.