DHARAMSHALA: The Italian Parliament discussed the issue of severe repression imposed by the Chinese authorities on Tibetans in Kirti monastery in Ngaba region of northeastern Tibet's Amdo province since 16 March, which has so far left at least two Tibetans dead and hundreds of monks arrested.
The urgent question was raised by Mr Matteo Mecacci, a member of Italian Parliament and who is also the current president of the Italian Parliamentary Intergroup for Tibet.
“I wish to thank one by one the thirty-eight colleagues from the various political groups with which I submitted this urgent question to the Government, for witnessing the attention of the Parliament towards what is happening Tibet, particularly in the county in which a severe humanitarian crisis has been taking place for some weeks or months,” Mr Mecacci told the parliament.
He expressed concern over the reluctance by Western Governments, including the Italian Government, in dealing with tens and thousands of Tibetans suffering under a strong and lasting repression inflicted by the Chinese government.
He apprised the parliament by giving a comprehensive account of how the situation worsened and culminated in the military siege of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba after a monk burned himself to death on 16 March in protest against the Chinese government's brutal suppression of peaceful protests across Tibet in 2008.
He likened the 'patriotic education' enforced upon the Tibetans by the Chinese authorities as ways to control a society through repression and ideological approach known to Italians as contained in the black book of Communism.
He said the Italian government maintaining silent over the repression in Tibet jeoperdises the interests that Italy and other European Countries intend to start with China.
“I hope that the Government might mirror the attention showed by the Parliament, and have a feedback that is not just formal but that leads to concrete results,” he told the House.
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Responding to the urgent question, Undersecretary for Economic Development Stefano Saglia said the government had decided to promote a joint action to express with a single voice the unease of the EU in relation to the news coming from Ngaba.
“The EU Foreign Service summoned the Ambassador of China at the EU to express the deep concern of the Union for the news of violence perpetrated by the Chinese authorities against the Tibetan monks,” Saglia said.
He said Italy would continue to follow this delicate matter with the highest level of attention.
“We obviously intend to keep our constant commitment in monitoring – in general – the situation of human rights in China. We actively support those instances that, inside of the European Union and in other international frameworks, might be addressed to the Chinese authorities, asking them for more openness towards the protection of religious freedom and freedom of thought,” he added.
“It must be stressed that, on the occasion of his visit to China last May, the President of the European Council indicated the respect for human rights, including religious rights, as a parameter to evaluate the role and the contribution of China as a global responsible actor. The President reminded the Chinese interlocutors that human rights represent one of the founding values of the European construction,” he said.
“The Italian Government, in the full respect of the territorial sovereignty and integrity of China, supports the common position expressed at European level to foster a constant and constructive dialogue between Beijing and the Tibetan representatives. The latter obviously represent fundamental interlocutors to find a shared solution to the Tibetan issue, a solution that – in the framework of the Chinese Constitution – ensures the level of protection and autonomy needed to preserve the culture, the century-old tradition and the religion of Tibet,” Mr Saglia said.
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