Update: Gordon Brown will meet H.H. the Dalai Lama in May

The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has finally announced that he will meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the UK in May. The Prime Minister also spoke to Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, and “made it absolutely clear that there had to be an end to violence in Tibet.”

They also spoke about the possibility of dialogue between His Holiness and the Chinese leadership. “The Premier told me that subject to two things that the Dalai Lama has already said - that he does not support the total independence of Tibet and that he renounces violence - that he would be prepared to enter into dialogue with the Dalai Lama,” Mr Brown said.

This is, as Tsering Tashi, the London representative of the Tibetan government-in-exile, said, “great news that will be welcomed not only by Tibetans but also by everyone who loves and cherishes peace and freedom.” It also fulfils the principal demands of the online petition we began two days ago.

Well done, Mr. Brown, you have done the right thing. If other world leaders can follow suit, and put similar pressure on the Chinese leadership (and of course, many already have), who knows what might happen?

Further Update: Prince Charles has also announced he will meet His Holiness in May.

Gordon Brown finally speaks out on Tibet

Gordon Brown has finally called on China to show restraint. The Prime Minister insisted that violent clashes on the streets of the disputed territory must stop, and urged Beijing to resolve the situation through “dialogue”. Please still sign the online petition to encourage the Prime Minister to act on his words, and facilitate such dialogue.

Meanwhile, the petition calling on the Prime Minister to meet the Dalai Lama in the UK in May has now closed, with a total of 8,849 signatories.

Sign the Petition!

If you are a British citizen or resident, please sign this new petition for the Prime Minister. It urges him to call upon the Chinese leadership to exercise restraint in dealing with recent protests in Tibet, and to encourage China to work towards a meaningful and lasting solution to the crisis through dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/tibet-solution/

Gordon Brown’s Muted Response to Tibet Crisis

Gordon Brown has said he is “very concerned” about what is happening in Tibet. That’s it. No condemnation. No promises to follow up with the Chinese leadership, or at the UN.

Mr. Brown would do well to remember the words of the late Hugh E. Richardson, Britain’s representative in Lhasa, who served there from 1936 to 1940 and from 1946-1950. “The British government, the only government among Western countries to have had treaty relations with Tibet, sold the Tibetans down the river,” Richardson wrote, “and since then have constantly cold-shouldered the Tibetans so that in 1959 they could not even support a resolution in the UN condemning the violation of human rights in Tibet by the Chinese.” With all the naive opinions about Tibetan history floating around the internet at the moment, many would certainly benefit from referring to Richardson’s own account of his dealings with an independent Tibet.

More than 7000 people (as of writing) have signed the online petition calling on Gordon Brown to announce that he will meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama when he visits the UK in May. The deadline for signing the petition is today. Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has also joined the call for the Prime Minister to meet the Dalai Lama. We (Phuntsog Nyidrol included) await that announcement.

Petition UK Prime Minister to meet Dalai Lama

With the 17th March deadline fast approaching, there are more than 4600 signatories to the official petition for Gordon Brown to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama in May. But it would be great to get 5000+, so if you have not signed it yet, please do so, and also try to let people know (but note that it’s only for UK citizens). You can also show your support by joining the dedicated group on Facebook.