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BACKGROUND BRIEF ON THE DALAI LAMA AND TIBET
DALAI LAMA
We regard the Dalai Lama as a distinguished spiritual leader, who has won international respect, and a Nobel Peace Prize, for his consistent advocacy for a non-violent solution to the problem of Tibet. He has been welcome to visit this country at any time. He is nevertheless regarded as the leader of the Tibetan "government in exile", not recognised by any Government and with which successive British Governments have had no dealings. For this reason we have been aware meetings with the Dalai Lama could be open to misinterpretation.
During 1990 Ministers from several of our European partners met the Dalai Lama in his private and religious capacity. At the same time they reaffirmed to the Chinese authorities their recognition of Chinese sovereignty in Tibet. The Chinese protested strongly about the meetings, which they regard as interference in their internal affairs, and support for a political exile who advocates "splittism" (i.e. independence for Tibet). No country supports Tibet's claim to independence. In view of the contact between our partners and the Dalai Lama, and public accusations of government discourtesy in refusing to meet him, the Secretary of State decided to permit an informal contact between a Government Minister and the Dalai Lama during his visit to the UK in March 1991. The Lord Chancellor, Speaker of the House of Lords, presided over a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet addressed by the Dalai Lama on 20 March.
On 16 April President Bush held a private meeting with the Dalai Lama. The Chinese protested about the meeting describing it as unacceptable interference in China's internal affairs. The Americans responded by saying they would not recognise the Dalai Lama's political status and emphasising that they regard Tibet as part of China.
THE SITUATION IN TIBET
formalised
Although signed
23 May 1991 was the 40th anniversary of the signing of the 17 point agreement on Tibet. This document Chinese reimposition of control over Tibet. by his representatives, the Dalai Lama has subsequently repudiated the agreement, claiming that it was signed under duress. The Chinese regard themselves as liberators of Tibet and marked the 40th anniversary with various
functions. Despite tight security, Tibetans demonstrated in
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protest. Given our concern about Chinese behaviour in Tibet, no British official representative attended any celebration of this anniversary.
After an abortive revolt in 1959, the Dalai Lama and many of his entourage fled to India. The issue of human rights in Tibet is entangled with Tibetan claims for independence and is set against a background of unrest and violent demonstrations (normally instigated and led by monks). These have been more frequent in recent years, having broken out on 27 September 1987, 5 March 1988, 10 December 1988 and 5 March 1989. The Chinese authorities admit that two Tibetans and one Chinese were killed in the 1 October 1987 incident, and to five fatalities (Amnesty claim 20) in the March 1988 incident (one a Tibetan policeman). The 10 December 1988 (International Human Rights Day) incident resulted in between six and eight dead with reports of police opening fire on unarmed demonstrators. The riots on 5 and 6 March 1989, following which the Chinese imposed Martial Law in Lhasa on 7 March, left at least 12 dead, including one policeman. There have been no reports of major disturbances since then, although there was a series of small protests around the 23 May anniversary. Martial Law in Tibet was lifted on 1 May 1990, but security is still tight and the authorities have indicated their determination to maintain order and stability.
A
Tibetan sources claim that around 1,000 people were detained after each of the October 1987 and March 1988 incidents. Tibetan monk speaking to a British diplomat who visited Lhasa in October 1989 said after the latest riot 50-60 monks had been taken by the People's Liberation Army from monasteries in Lhasa and that their whereabouts were unknown. Four Scandinavian Ambassadors, visiting Tibet in November 1990, were told that there were 56 political detainees in prison and 63 undergoing labour or re-education sentences. In April 1991 the Chinese announced that over 1000 people had been arrested in the various riots since September 1987. Most have been released but 127 have been sentenced and 97 are receiving "education through labour". Two British diplomats who visited in July 1991 were told that 89 people were in prison for counter-revolutionary offences. None have been executed. There are allegations from Tibet separatists' sources, but which our Embassy in Peking believe are credible, that prisoners, including nuns, have been tortured. In January, Amnesty International published a report of the alleged death under torture of a Tibetan detainee. The Chinese say he died from a ruptured appendix.
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