UCS 16/02/07: Demand explanations on British policy on Tibet

Demand explanations from the Foreign Secretary for British Policy on Tibet!


16 February 2007

Update 21 February - Webchat with Foreign Secrtary postponed!

The Downing Street website said, "We are very sorry but our webchat with Margaret Beckett has been postponed. The Foreign Secretary has been called away on important parliamentary business this lunchtime which clashes with the time slot we had. Many thanks for all your questions. We will hold on to them. We hope to have a new date for the webchat soon. Sorry for any disappointment."

Original Urgent Campaign text

On Wednesday 21 February 2007, Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, will be online to answer questions from the public as part of the British Govenment's "latest Policy Review webchats".

The Foreign Secretary will appear from 10.45 GMT for about an hour on the theme of "Britain and the World". The Tibet issue must be on the agenda with a clear voice demanding the British Government takes firm action on the dire human rights situation in Tibet and promotes negotiations without pre-conditions between China and representatives of the Dalai Lama.


TAKE ACTION

(When a new date is announced we will publish the web address here to send in your questions.)

To find out more about the British Govenment's Policy Review go to:

www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page10729.asp?fq=d&tp=g&dt=2007021


POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

  •  Why hasn't the UK Government publicly and vigorously condemned the shooting at Nangpa La? And why hasn't the UK government publicly pressed China to explain its delay in releasing the findings of the report it pledged to carry out in the immediate aftermath of the shootings?
     
  •  Why hasn't Margaret Beckett followed the recommendations of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee's report which recommended "that the Government continue to raise human rights at the highest levels with Chinese counterparts and do not flinch from making public statements where appropriate." So far she has made no strong public statement condemning the Nangpa La killings, instead sidelining it into the ongoing EU-China human rights dialogue.
     
  •  What is the UK Government doing to support negotiations without pre-conditions between China and representatives of the Dalai Lama for a peaceful solution for the Tibetan issue.
     
  •  What is the Ms Beckett's response to China refusing to extend the same reporting freedoms for foreign journalists reporting from Tibet and Xinjiang as have been extended for all other regions of China in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008?
     
  •  What pressure is the British Government putting on China to improve its worsening human rights record so that London does not inherit an Olympics irreparably tarnished by association with the abusive and repressive Chinese regime?


    If you receive a written response please forward it to us so we can monitor the situation.

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