Tibet Motion Attracts Cross Party Support

2.04.16pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 31st Mar 2008

A motion by Mike Pringle MSP expressing his abhorrence of the Chinese Government's recent suppression of democratic protests by the people of Tibet has attracted widespread cross party support from the Scottish Parliament.

The motion also called on the Chinese Government, as host of the Olympic Games; to look to improve human rights and freedoms in Tibet.

An emergency meeting of the Cross Party Group on Tibet is now planned to discuss the recent crisis. Four Tibetan nuns also plan to visit the parliament and meet with Mike Pringle on Friday.

Mike Pringle said

"It has come as no surprise to me that my motion has attracted such widespread support.

"China's suppression of Tibet's people and culture is simply unacceptable and should be a matter for the conscience of every developed nation.

"I will continue to campaign hard for the freedom of Tibet."

A total of 49 MSPs signed Mike's motion the full text of which is below.

S3M-01587 Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): Parliament Deplores the Chinese Government's Suppression of Tibet- That the Parliament deplores the Chinese Government's violent suppression of recent democratic protests by the people of Tibet, which has been controlled by the Chinese Government since a military assault in 1950; commends calls by the Dalai Lama for an international fact-finding mission to be sent to Tibet to investigate the causes of the protests and the actual situation in Tibet under Chinese rule, and reminds China, as host of the 2008 Olympic Games, that it should look to improve human rights and religious freedom in Tibet.