Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, speaks at the opening of the Seventh Tibet Support Group Meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on 8 September 2016.
Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal
By Lobsang Wangyal
BRUSSELS, Belgium, 8 September 2016
The Seventh Tibet Support Groups Conference opened in the Belgian capital of Brussels with the Dalai Lama putting the equation of Tibet and China as that of the “power of gun” versus “power of truth”.
“For immediate [solutions], power of gun is more powerful. For long run, power of truth is much stronger.”
He said that Beijing always gives wrong information, and spreads propaganda rather than information. “That’s a sign of weakness.”
Speaking about the Chinese quest for unity and stability in China, he said that these must come from the heart. “Their present policy brings more fear. Fear and trust cannot go together.”
With regard to the Tibetan issue, the Dalai Lama said, “We are not for one side victory and one side loss. We are for benefit for both side,” referring to the Middle-Way policy that he proposed seeking autonomy for Tibet, rather than independence.
Tibetan political leader Lobsang Sangay in his remarks said, “Through this three days of meetings, we will have great ideas, so that there’s a success story.”
Sangay said because of the China rise in economy, leaders are forgetting the principles on which the constitutions of democracies around the world have been founded. He urged the delegates to ask their governments to make statements and pass resolutions in support of Tibet and Tibetan people.
Seated on the dais along with the Dalai Lama and Tibetan political leader Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, are Thomas Mann, President Tibet Interest Group, European Parliament; Henri Malosse, Former President of European Economic and Social Committee; Cristian Dan Preda, Vice Chair on the Human Rights Sub-Committee and Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, European Parliament; and Jan Peumans, Speaker of the Flemish Parliament.
Actor and human rights activist Richard Gere was also among the 250 delegates from 50 countries around the world. Like the dignitaries, Gere also expressed his support and solidarity with the Tibetan people in the fight for a Free Tibet.
Jan Peumans said that he had been approached by the Chinese Ambassador in Belgium asking him not to attend the conference.
