Europe Tibet Advocacy Begins in Germany

A Tibetan Parliamentary delegation of Youdon Aukatsang and Tsering Lhamo held a closed-door meeting with concerned high officials of the Foreign Ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany on 4 November.

The two MPs shared deep concerns about the PRC’s aggressive policy of “single Chinese national identity” and the genocidal policies of assimilation and eradication of Tibetan identity, including residential boarding schools and forced closures of Tibetan private schools and monastic schools. The critical issue of China’s interference in the reincarnation of Tibetan high Lamas, particularly that of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, was raised. The Tibetan MPs thanked the German government for being part of the countries expressing concern on the boarding schools and Derge Kamtok Hydropower project at the UN Human Rights Council. They urged for an urgent need to respond to China’s transnational repression and disinformation campaign.

On 5 November, the two Tibetan MPs had an in-depth meeting with Anke Oppermann, Director and head of the Officer of Federal Government Commissioner for Freedom of Religion or Belief under the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Oppermann was briefed on the blatant violation of religious freedom in Tibet with a case study of the forced closure of monastic schools and the demolition of monasteries.

On the same day, The Tibetan MPs were received at the headquarters of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), a political Foundation close to FDP, Liberal Party of Germany based in Potsdam, by Charles Du Vinage, Head of the Asia Unit and Daniela Sacca, Desk Officer, East Asia. They thanked FNF for supporting Tibet and Tibetans since 1991 and briefed them on the TPiE’s advocacy campaign.

The Tibetan MPs called upon Prof Dr Jhy-Wey Shieh, Representative of Taiwan in Germany, to felicitate him and update him on the advocacy campaign conducted by the Tibetan parliament in exile.

During the short visit to Berlin, the MPs were briefed by ICT Germany Executive Director Kai Mueller on ICT’s advocacy work, German-China relations, and the current political situation in Germany. Muller also hosted a dinner for the Tibetan MPs where ICT Germany Board member Namri Dagyab was present.

The MPs also met with Haiyuer Kuerbin, the Berlin Office Director of the World Uyghur Congress and exchanged ideas on advocacy and shared common concerns.

Tibetan MPs were warmly received by Phuntsok Tobgyal, UN Advocacy Officer, Office of Tibet Geneva and members of the Tibetan community led by President Dhondup Donka on their arrival in Berlin on 2 November. The MPs interacted with Tibetan community members at Little Tibet Restaurant, where the community hosted a welcome dinner.