50th anniversary of Tibetan uprising: European Parliament urges China
to negotiate
12-03-2009
In a resolution adopted by MEPs on Thursday to mark
the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, the Chinese
Government is urged to resume talks with the Dalai Lama's representatives with
a view to "positive, meaningful change in Tibet",
not ruling out autonomy for the region, a solution that MEPs believe need not
compromise China's
territorial integrity.
The EP's call for talks to resume came as Tibetans in
many countries commemorated the 50th anniversary of the 1959 revolt against China, which led to the flight of the Dalai Lama
and the beginning of his exile in India. Eight rounds of
dialogue in recent years between the Dalai Lama's envoys and Chinese Government
representatives have produced no breakthrough and no further talks are
planned. In recent days the Chinese authorities have tightened security
in Tibet,
banning journalists and foreigners from visiting the region.
Autonomy, not independence, for
Tibet
In its key demand, Parliament urges the Chinese Government "to consider
the Memorandum for Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People of November 2008 as
a basis for substantive discussion leading towards positive, meaningful change
in Tibet, consistent with the principles outlined in the Constitution and laws
of the Peoples Republic of China". The resolution calls on the EU Council
Presidency to adopt a declaration on the same lines.
The Memorandum, produced at the request of the Chinese Government and presented
by envoys of the Dalai Lama at the eighth round of talks in November 2008 in
Beijing, respects the principles underpinning the Chinese Constitution and the
territorial integrity of the Peoples Republic of China, but was rejected by
the Chinese Government as an attempt at 'semi-independence' and 'independence
in disguise'.
In addition, Parliament's resolution "condemns all acts of violence,
whether they are the work of demonstrators or disproportionate repression by
the forces of law and order". It calls on the Chinese Government "to
release immediately and unconditionally all those detained solely for engaging
in peaceful protest and account for all those who have been killed or gone
missing".
MEPs ask the Chinese authorities "to provide foreign media access to Tibet, including the Tibetan areas outside the
Tibet Autonomous Region" and "to grant UN human rights experts and
recognised international NGOs unimpeded access to Tibet so that they can investigate
the situation there".
The resolution was adopted by 338 votes to 131 with 14 abstentions.
Previous EP action on Tibet
The European Parliament has followed events in Tibet closely over the years. After
the repression of demonstrations by Tibetans a year ago, the EP adopted a
resolution condemning "all acts of violence from whichever
source". EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering then announced on 10 July
that he would not attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games last August
because talks between China
and the Dalai Lama had made no progress. The Dalai Lama himself addressed
the European Parliament on 4
December 2008 as part of Year of Intercultural Dialogue.
REF. :
20090311IPR51592
(See attachment for extra info about the EU-resolution)
End February 2009 we went to the Vosges for a flying weekend. Base camp was the "Auberge du Grieb" where we had a comfortable lodging and sweet food for democratic prices. Like most of the other mountain areas in central Europe this winter, the Vosges were also covered with lots of snow. On Fridaymorning we went for a meteo-check to the Aerotec landing field in Oderen and decided to climb up to the Siebach starting place, 250m higher up. The youngest one of the pack (Jyves) reached the top after only 30 minutes march, leaving the rest far behind. Wind was not too strong, there was a small window for a little bit of dynamic soaring... only for a few... wind was decreasing. In the afternoon we went all the way up to the Markstein top, all was white, view was great, lots of people enjoying their last day of skiing. Going down the mountain again we noticed that a smooth evening flight from the Treh would be possible. Jyves, Stéph and Jean took off in the deep snow, flying toward the setting sun.
On Saturday we've met some other Belgian pilots at the Aerotec and together with them we drove to the Ballon d'Alsace. Sky was blue, wind was okay, so we had wonderful conditions for a day full of flying joy. Starting place was at 1247m, landing place 700m lower between two lakes just before the small village of Sewen. Wonderful flights, save landings and joyful socializing with Geff & co, a day to remember.
On Sunday the wind was blowing hard. On our last day some of us were going for a walk, others stayed at the Aerotec landing field for some serious groundhandling... or no activity at all... Wind was blowing in different directions and it wouldn't be a flying day, at the Treh the wind was even getting 60km/h. We were hoping the wind would calm down in the late afternoon, but weather didn't improved. The wonderful weekend was over and it was time to pack our gear. Enjoy the pictures below.
