Lobby the Government and your MP Support calls for Prime Minister Gordon Brown to meet the Dalai Lama Will Gordon Brown follow other prominent world leaders and meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama whilst he is in London this May? The Prime Minister has yet to confirm that he will despite repeated calls for him to do so. The Dalai Lama is revered by Tibetans everywhere including those living under Chinese occupation as evidenced by the songs recorded by the Drapchi nuns whilst imprisoned in Tibet and more recently on February 21st during the mass demonstrations by Tibetans at a prayer festival in Rebkong in north-western Tibet where demonstrators prayed for the long life of the Dalai Lama. As well as being the leader of the Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama is also respected worldwide as a religious and moral leader, and a man of peace. Details about the Dalai Lama’s UK visit can be obtained from The Office of Tibet (www.tibet.com) in London. This is the official agency representing the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration in Northern Europe, Poland and the Baltic Countries. |
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1) Sign the online petition on the 10 Downing Street website now! Add your name to the peitition (http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/DalaiLama/) calling on the Prime Minister to make a formal statement that he will meet officially with the Dalai Lama when he visits the United Kingdom and to state on record that his meeting with the Dalai Lama will include a discussion of how the United Kingdom can help Tibetans find a solution to the Chinese occupation. Please also ask your friends, family and colleagues to add their names to the petition. |
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2) Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion (EDM) 984 In the House of Commons on 19th February, Norman Baker MP, asked the UK Government to make a statement as to whether Gordon Brown would meet the Dalai Lama, but the Government failed to give a straight answer. Following this feeble response, Norman Baker tabled an Early Day Motion urging the UK Prime Minister to meet His Holiness in May. Take action now by contacting your MP and ask that they sign EDM 984: Visit of the Dalai Lama. |
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That this House welcomes the forthcoming visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the United Kingdom in May; recognises the strong historical connections between this country and Tibet; notes that the Dalai Lama has recently had meetings with President George Bush, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of Australia, Canada and Austria; and calls upon the Prime Minister to take the opportunity to meet the Dalai Lama on the occasion of his visit, particularly in the light of the worsening human rights position in Tibet and the Dalai Lama's commitment to a non-violent solution. Check if your MP has already signed the EDM (http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=35179&SESSION=891) Please also ask your friends, family and colleagues to contact their MP to sign EDM 984. |