A cross-party group of Members of the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) has issued a joint statement calling for the repeal of China's Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress. The statement expresses concern over the law's impact on Tibetans, urges the European Union and the United Nations to respond more strongly, and calls for renewed diplomatic efforts to promote a peaceful resolution of the China–Tibet conflict through dialogue. It also reiterates support for the preservation of Tibet's distinct cultural, linguistic and religious identity.
The statement prompted a swift response from the Chinese Embassy in Estonia, which criticised the initiative and reiterated Beijing's opposition to international scrutiny of its policies in Tibet.
This initiative is a strong example of how coordinated efforts between the Offices of Tibet and local Tibet Support Groups can lead to meaningful results and strengthen parliamentary support for Tibet across Europe.
You can read the full statement here.
Photo: Vamps / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
EU4TIBET is a campaign led jointly by the Tibet Interest Group of the European Parliament, the International Campaign for Tibet and the Office of Tibet Brussels, with the support of the International Tibet Network, Tibet Support Groups and Tibetan Communities across Europe.
