(TibetanReview.net, Sep22, 2015) – Forty-two members of the Scottish Parliament in the UK have on Sep 15 signed an ‘I Stand with Tibet’ petition which was launched during a European rally with the same slogan in Paris in Mar 2014 on the 55th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day. Barcelona-based MP to the exile Tibetan parliament at Dharamshala, India, Ven. Thubten Wangchen visited the Scottish parliament for the purpose.
The petition, bearing support signatures from people across Europe, including lawmakers and other political leaders as well as prominent public figures, is being led by Tibet groups in Europe and draws attention to and seeks action on the human rights situation in Tibet. It will be presented to the European Parliament and other international bodies in Nov 2015, said a statement issue Sep 15 by the two MP’s from Europe to the Tibetan Parliament in Exile; the other being Mr Wangpo Tethong from Switzerland.
During the lobbying for signatures, the Cross Party Group on Tibet (CPG on Tibet) in the Scottish Parliament also held an exhibit on Tibet. A major highlight of the exhibit was a report on the human rights issues pertaining to Tibet compiled by Dr Martin Mills, Professor of Tibetan Anthropology at Aberdeen University.
On being queried by the Exhibition Coordinator Mr David Lloyd Hudson and his colleagues about his failure to meet with the Dalai Lama in 2012, Mr Alex Salmond, former First minister of Scotland, said he would be happy to meet with the exile Tibetan spiritual leader in the future, said the two exile Tibetan MPs in their statement.