Features > U-Turn for John Key - he won’t meet the Dalai Lama

 

U-Turn for John Key - he won’t meet the Dalai Lama

See how you can Email John Key, below.

Helen Clarke did not officially meet the Dalai Lama. On 14 June 2007 a spokesman for the National party stated that while John Key was undecided about meeting the Dalai Lama, that National's foreign affairs spokesman Murray McCully would meet him.

In the run up to the 2008 elections, John Key was asked whether he would meet the Dalai Lama as Prime Minister. On 21 October 2008 John Key is quoted as stating "I would".

Now in a sudden u-turn on these assertions, John Key is now suggesting that there is no reason for himself or any other Government minister to meet the Dalai Lama.

Was this about-face in policy brought about by a positive shift in relations between China and the Tibetan Government in Exile? Perhaps improvements in the situation in Tibet brought about John Key’s change in attitude? Here is a summary of what's been happening in Tibet since 21 October 2008:

Unfortunately there is no positive change in the Chinese government’s policy. In addition, John Key is asking for China to engage the Dalai Lama in meaningful discussion to work towards a resolution of the Tibet issue, while John Key himself or any New Zealand government minister will not meet the Dalai Lama.

Email John Key

So there are valid reasons for John Key to meet the Dalai Lama at an official level. If you’d like to say as much to John Key, you can email him at j.key@ministers.govt.nz. Feel free to use the following email template:

Dear Prime Minister,

Re: Official meeting with the Dalai Lama in December

From recent newspapers I have seen that you have changed tact and decided that neither yourself nor any government minister will meet the Dalai Lama. I distinctly recall your pre-election campaign where you stated that you would meet the Dalai Lama as Prime Minister. I really admired this firm, positive stance. Now I would like for you to keep your word, to follow through by officially meeting the Dalai Lama during his December visit.

You might suggest that there is no reason for you to meet the Dalai Lama and indeed, if the relationship between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama had improved or if things in Tibet had improved considerably then I would agree. But things in Tibet haven’t approved at all in the past 12 months. These are a few things that have happened in Tibet over the past 12 months:

  • October reports of two Tibetans executed in Lhasa for protest fires,
  • July there were more reports confirming the repressive reality in China and continued repression under ‘martial law’,
  • March 100 Tibetan monks were held,
  • The Dalai Lama described China's Tibet as a 'hell on earth',
  • February a Tibetan monk sets himself on fire to try to draw awareness to the situation in Chinese-ruled Tibet.

How can we hope for China to meet the Dalai Lama when our trusted leaders fail to do so? For these reasons Mr Key, I impress upon you the importance that you do officially meet with the Dalai Lama, and join my voice with the other New Zealanders in requesting you to do so. Please stand up for Tibet.

Your faithfully,

We hope that you enjoy and benefit from the Dalai Lama's teachings in Auckland on Sat 5/Dec/2009 and Sun 6/Dec/2009, if you have the opportunity to attend.

All at Tibet Solidarity Network
28/Nov/2009