Gordon Brown urged to meet Dalai Lama

As the Chinese government ratchets up its anti-Dalai Lama rhetoric, Free Tibet Campaign is today calling on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to show support for the Tibetan religious leader and his people. 

In a Downing Street e-mail petition (1) launched today the group are calling for the Prime Minister to make an official announcement that he will meet formally with the Dalai Lama during his visit to the UK next May. 

The groups further requests that the Prime Minister's discussions with the Dalai Lama address how the United Kingdom can help Tibetans find a solution to the Chinese occupation which began in 1950. 

Free Tibet Campaign said: 

'The esteem in which the Dalai Lama is held everywhere except China is evident today with his receipt in the US Congress and in front of President George Bush of the highest civilian honour bestowed by the US government. 

'The Dalai Lama symbolises the tragedy of the Tibetan people whose culture has been under assault by the occupying Chinese authorities for more than half a century. 

'It's time for the UK to stand up unequivocally for the rights of the Tibetan people.' 

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For more information, contact Anne Holmes on 020 7342 4611 or 07798 666 658 or e-mail anne@.... 

Notes:

(1) The petition can be signed here, and says: 

'As President George Bush and the United States Congress honour His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we, British citizens and residents, begin this petition requesting that Prime Minister Gordon Brown make a formal statement that he will meet officially with the Dalai Lama when he visits the United Kingdom in May 2008. We further request that the Prime Minister 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 which began in 1950.' 

Please tell your friends to sign too; the more who sign, the greater the impact!

Thank you for your support!

PLEASE NOTE:

This petition can only be signed by UK residents.

ALSO NOTE:

You can watch the podcast of the Dalai Lama being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal at:

http://ict.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=DLDC_webcast_English

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F R E E   T I B E T   C A M P A I G N
28 Charles Square, London N1 6HT, UK
Phone: +44 (0)20 7324 4605
Fax: +44 (0)20 7324 4606
Web: http://www.freetibet.org
Email: mail@...
- an independent membership organisation campaigning in support of the rights of the Tibetan people to freedom and independence.
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The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Free Tibet Campaign.