Tibet: Australian MP tables a Motion in Parliament
Dharamshala: Mr. Michael Danby, MP from the Labour Party who attended the 4th World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet (WPCT) in Edinburgh, tabled a motion to support the cause of Tibet in the House of Representatives in Australian Parliament on 1 December 2005.
The motion was supported by Mr. Peter Slipper, MP from the Liberal Party, Australia. Mr. Michael hopes to discuss and pass the motion in the Australian Parliament next year.
The motion, in connection with the recent calls by the world leaders to resolve the Tibet's issue prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, calls on the People's Republic of China to finalise the negotiation with the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, to grant genuine autonomy to Tibetans and to free all Tibetan political prisoners, including His Serenity the Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.
Following is the full text of the motion tabled in the House of Representatives in Australian Parliament by Mr. Michael Danby:
To move that, in light of recent calls by world leaders, including the President of the United States, for a resolution of the Tibet issue prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the statement by Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile at the 4th World Parliamentarians for Tibet Convention in Edinburgh on 18 November 2005, this House calls on the Government to:
- Urge the Government of the People’s Republic of China to finalise negotiations with the Tibetan government-in-exile for the granting of autonomy to Tibet within the People’s Republic of China, prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics;
- Congratulate the Government of the People’s Republic of China for re-opening negotiations with the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan govemment-in-exile;
- Call on President Hu Jintao to demonstrate his personal commitment to resolving the issue of Tibet by meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama as soon as possible at a mutually agreed venue;
- Call on the Government of the People’s Republic of China to issue an invitation to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit China and the traditional regions of Tibet;
- Call on the Government of the People’s Republic of China to bring a halt to the destruction of historic buildings and other items pertaining to the cultural heritage of Tibet;
- Request the Government of the People’s Republic of China to free all Tibetan political prisoners, including the Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima;
- Request the Government of the People’s Republic of China to commit to the preservation of the Tibetan language and Tibetan culture; and
- Request that the Government of the People’s Republic of China give genuine consideration to the recommendations of the Declaration of the 4th World Parliamentarians for Tibet Convention, Edinburgh, 19 November 2005.
Source: TibetNet
