Liz O'Donnell
Question:15 Ms O'Donnell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a report to Dáil Éireann to the recent visit by EC Ambassadors to Tibet.
Written Answers. - Fact-finding Visit to Tibet.
Liz O'Donnell
Question:66 Ms O'Donnell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give a report to Dáil Éireann on the recent visit by EC Ambassadors to Tibet.
I will take Questions Nos. 16 and 66 together. A group of EC Ambassadors in Beijing, including the Irish Ambassador, made a fact-finding visit to Tibet from 16 to 23 May 1993.
An intensive programme was drawn up in response to requests from the Embassies. This included meetings with the Vice-Governor of the Tibet Autonomous Region and with a broad range of government agencies in Tibet.
The delegation raised with the local authorities questions concerning religious freedom and matters relating to the preservation of the cultural, religious and national identity of the Tibetan people.
They also raised human rights concerns. The delegation handed over to the Chinese authorities in Tibet a list of some 50 Tibetan political prisoners with a request for information on their welfare. The delegation also sought an explanation about the arrest of three Tibetans prior to the arrival of the delegation who were said to be seeking to present a report on the situation in Tibet. After the delegation left Tibet, demonstrations were held in Lhasa. The Twelve have expressed their concern at reports of police actions against the demonstrations.
I will be happy to make available to Deputy O'Donnell a report on the visit.