"The Chinese need the West more than we need China", says former British PM 25th Anniversay St John's Mural: world renowned and regularly controversial content. Murals produced and hand painted by Artist for Peace and Justice. Photo: Mr Mike Pringle (Member of the Scottish Parliament and Cross Party Group on Tibet), Mr Tsering Tashi (Office of Tibet) and Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Northen Europe with Mr Victor Spence, Co-Director of the Festival and General Secretary of the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association. Mr Victor Spence hosted His Holiness The Dalai Lama in Edinburgh in June 2004 and November 2005.) Edinburgh (Scotland), August 12 - Increasing Chinese and international community understanding and support for the non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people is a source of optimism for a resolution to the lingering issue of Tibet according to the London-based Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Northern Europe, Poland and the Baltic Countries. Speaking in the Scottish capital at an event which is part of the Edinburgh festivals, Mr. Tsering Tashi said the growing number of Tibet support groups formed voluntarily in different parts of the world is a clear sign that the Tibet issue has not been forgotten. He, however, pointed out that although the public interest and support for Tibet and non-violence was encouraging, the double standard dealings of political leaders when they are in power was unfortunate and showed their lack of moral courage to do the right thing when in power. Mr. Tashi gave the example of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s differing stance on Tibet when she was in power and out of power. He said when Thatcher was the Prime Minister she hardly spoke about Chinese government’s violation of human rights in China and Tibet. But when out of power, in her autobiography titled, “Statecraft – Strategies for a Changing World”, Thatcher has devoted three pages on Tibet and said, “The Chinese claim to Tibet is dubious on historical grounds” and that “The Chinese now appear to have resolved upon a programme of ‘modernisation’ that involves shifting the ethnic balance in favour of Han Chinese and away from Tibetans, as a final solution to the continuing resistance. I hope that they do not succeed”. “For two years running, Britain and the rest of the European Union have refused to co-sponsor a United States resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights condemning China’s record. This attitude is not just shameful: it is also foolish. Any plaudits from the Chinese authorities for such actions are short-lived, nor are they needed: after all, in almost every field, the Chinese need the West more than we need China”, Mr. Tashi quoted the former British Prime Minister as saying in her book. He also quoted Mrs. Thatcher as saying, “The Chinese leaders will only improve human rights if we embarrass them into doing so: we must therefore be prepared to speak out”. Mr. Tashi concluded his brief by saying he wished Mrs. Thatcher had the courage to speak out on Tibet when she was the Prime Minister and appealed to current world leaders to show their courage and take the moral high ground to champion the just cause of Tibet when they are in the position to make a positive contribution to do the right thing rather than unfortunately having to bow down to pressure from the Chinese government even on simple matters of human rights issues and having second thoughts at the opportunity to meet with the Tibetan Noble Peace Laureate, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who a recent poll in Germany showed as having been voted at their most popular role model. Mr. Tashi shared the dais with Muslim commentator Amanullah de Sondy, who spoke on the issue of the Palestinian people’s struggle. The two speakers were invited to Edinburgh by the Directors of the Edinburgh Festival of Spirituality and Peace which is a partnership between St John’s Church and the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association. The forum was chaired by Rev. Dr John Armes, Rector of St John’s, who also coordinated the question and answer session after their respective presentations. Answering a question from the audience, among whom was the re-elected Member of the Scottish Parliament, Mr. Mike Pringle of the Scottish Cross Party Parliamentary Group on Tibet, Mr. Tashi said that unlike their brethren under the Chinese rule in Tibet, the Tibetans in exile enjoy democratic rights to elect their own members to the Tibetan parliament in exile and discuss all issues in a free and frank manner. Mr. Victor Spence, Co-Director of the Festival and General Secretary of the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association said, “Non-violence is at the heart of His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s teachings and of course intrinsic to his approach to the as yet unresolved China-Tibet issue. The path to a final and positive outcome has been and may be long but will bear much fruit for Chinese and Tibetans alike". He added, “Recently we have seen unrest in Tibet and many Tibetans arrested simply for calling the name of the Dalai Lama. Freedom of speech and the freedom of religion are fundamental human rights which are embedded in U.N. Charters and it is clear that Tibetans are denied such rights. I have witnessed significant bullying of foreign governments when the Dalai Lama is to visit; the U.K. and Scotland have no exception. I have been told to my face by the Chinese Consul here in Edinburgh that I would not not be welcome or receive a visa to visit Tibet”. Commenting on the day’s deliberations, Revd Donald Reid, Director of the Edinburgh Festival of Spirituality and Peace said, “What came across to me is a rather cynical political game; the values of human rights and self-determination are not pressed when, because of our self-interest we prefer to collude with the powerful. If only politicians lived up to the principles they espoused before (and after) being in power, when courage is most needed”. Report submitted by: The Edinburgh Festival of Spirituality and Peace Contact: For media only: Victor Spence on 00 44 (0) 07909618236 and victor@eifa.org.uk Notes: In 1947, after the devastation of war, the Edinburgh International Festival was conceived to ‘provide a platform for the flowering of the human spirit’. The Festival of Spirituality and Peace seeks to reawaken the heart of the festival for people who, after 9/11, want to work together for a peaceful future by getting down to the nitty-gritty of interfaith dialogue, peace studies, issues of human rights (and wrongs) and the multi-faceted aspects of a spiritual life. Donald Reid, Director of The Festival of Spirituality and Peace said "The original International Festival was conceived to be a platform for reconciliation after the Second World War, so we similarly need some sort of reconciliation - a meeting of minds or hearts - in the light of 9/11 and 7/7. Where is that happening at the Festival? Where's the dialogue? Where is the attempt to get people to seriously address issues and to get to some sort of higher level of conversation than just their rehearsed positions? Our Festival programme addresses this gap" The Festival of Spirituality and Peace runs from 5th-26th August at St John’s Church on Princes Street and a number of other venues. The Festival programme features an attractive line up of keynote speakers and conversationalists as well as film, drama, inter-faith events, prayer and meditations, exhibitions, workshops, storytelling, round table dialogues and concerts. Details at www.festivalofspirituality.org.uk This year’s Festival of Spirituality and Peace has all the hallmarks of being the best yet. The impressive programme includes a line up of hard talk conversation events featuring among others Rabbi Lionel Blue, Richard Holloway, Tony Benn, Gillian Slovo, James Robertson, Toyin Agbetu, Amanullah de Sondy, Julian Baggini, Judge Baltasar Garzon (spain), Derek Ogg QC, Charles Handy, Sir Tom Farmer, Rev Donald Reeves, Abbott Christopher Jamison and Nobel Prize winner Mairead Maquire, Sheikh Ahmad Saad and many more.

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Last updated: 16-August-2007