Chinese delegates in Hungary: Tibetan protest cancel scheduled tour of River Danube

2008. május 9./Phayul/TibetPress

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and head of China's top political advisory body who is in Hungary met with Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany in Budapest Thursday. Qinglin who is leading a Chinese delegation visited Budapest on its second leg of the four-nation Europe tour which earlier saw him in Romania. His four day visit in Hungary will be followed by stopovers in Slovenia and Croatia.

Tibetans and activists from Tibet Support Group protested the repressive policy of the Chinese authorities in Tibet by organizing peaceful demonstrations in front of the Parliament during Qinglin's official visit. After a press conference with the Chinese delegates in the Parliament House, a media conference was called for outside its premises by the Tibet Support Group (TSG). In attendance of over 30 local and international media persons, TSG President Hendrey Tibor briefed the aim for organizing a peaceful rally. He also urged China to open Tibet and allow international representatives to assess the current situation if they (the Chinese authorities) believed that the Dalai Lama and the TGIE were lying to the world.

Balog Zoltan, Hungarian MP and Human Rights Commissioner spoke at length about the Hungarian Parliament's forthcoming resolution on Tibet. He is also considering pushing forward the development of human rights in Tibet.

Choegyal Tenzin, former member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile talked about the recent unrest in Tibet. He emphasized the need for China to be sincere and open meaningful dialogues with the Dalai Lama in keeping with the long term interests of both Tibet and China. He addressed the media about the development following the recent dialogue between Chinese and Tibetan diplomats.

The evening's program of a guided tour for the Chinese delegates around River Danube was abandoned when activists showed up in a boat demonstrating using a loudspeaker and waving the Tibetan National Flag. Peaceful demonstrations are expected to carry on until the group's departure.

Report by Choegyal Tenzin/ Compiled and edited by Tenzin Sangmo