Labour betray Tibetan people
March 12, 2009 4:38 PM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP
Marking the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising which saw the Dalai Lama exiled to India, the European Parliament has deplored the violence in Lhasa and urged China to give access to Tibet for human rights experts and journalists, release protesters and account for the killed and missing.
MEPs have also called on China to seek positive change by embarking on 'meaningful negotiations without preconditions' with the Dalai Lama based on his ideas for autonomy for Tibet.
London MEP Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat justice and human rights spokeswoman, commented:
"It is shocking that Labour MEPs and their Socialist group allies saw fit to vote against this careful and constructive resolution. Were they under instructions from Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Business Secretary Lord Peter Mandelson not to rock the boat with China for commercial or other reasons?"
"The Tibetan people need and deserve the support of all democratically elected governments and institutions to improve their conditions. It is pretty shabby to betray those people in order to avoid offending China. Fundamental freedoms and democracy are priority rights, and must not be pawns in a political or economic game."
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