Tibetan delegation meets Dutch officials to discuss Tibet crisis

A delegation of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile led by MP Yeshi Dolma and Geshe Lharampa Gowo Lobsang Phende concluded a highly successful advocacy mission in the Netherlands on the occasion of International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2024.

During the visit, MPs from the Tibetan Parliament in exile met with key Dutch Foreign Ministry officials, including China Desk Senior Policy Officer Kim Peters and Human Rights Policy Officer Mariska Meyerhof.

The hour-long meeting provided an opportunity to brief Dutch officials on important issues such as increasing human rights violations in Tibet, China’s ongoing repression in Tibet, the status of the Panchen Lama and the future of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.

Dutch officials expressed keen interest and pledged their support for the Tibetan cause. Emphasizing the importance of addressing human rights abuses in Tibet, he/she assured MPs that Tibet-related issues will be included in future foreign policy discussions.

The Tibetan parliamentarian’s visit aims to draw international attention to the ongoing human rights crisis in Tibet and call for stronger global action. The MPs arrived in Amsterdam on 9 December, where they were warmly welcomed by local Tibetan community leaders, including Tibet Brussels Office representative Rigzin Choeden and Tsering Jampa, former director of the International Tibet Campaign Europe.

On 10 December, a Tibetan delegation visited the Amnesty International office in Amsterdam to brief staff on the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet. During the meeting, MPs highlighted the important role of international organizations like Amnesty in protecting human rights globally. he/she warned that without decisive action, such organizations risk being weakened by powerful states, including China, which could use them for political purposes.

MPs Yeshi Dolma and Geshe Lobsang Phende also called for an independent fact-finding mission to Tibet and urged that this take place despite China’s approval. The meeting was constructive, with Amnesty International representatives promising to raise Tibet-related issues in future discussions.

During the visit, a joint protest was held on Amsterdam’s Dam Square to commemorate International Human Rights Day. Tibetans, Uighurs, Hong Kongers and southern Mongolians, all suffering under Chinese communist rule, gathered to raise awareness of their shared struggles. The protests were marked by impassioned speeches by Tibetan parliamentarians, the President of the Tibetan Association in the Netherlands and Tsering Jampa.

Representatives of Uyghur, Hong Kong and southern Mongolian communities also spoke, condemning Chinese oppression and calling for global solidarity against human rights abuses. The protests culminated in powerful slogans and demonstrations against the Chinese Communist Party, demanding an end to systematic human rights violations.

The successful advocacy mission in the Netherlands is an important step in raising global awareness about human rights violations occurring in Tibet. Through their meetings with key officials and participation in protests, parliamentarians stressed the importance of continued international pressure on China to address its actions in Tibet.