Brief background on PLG for Tibet in New Zealand Parliament.
The Parliamentary Lobby Group for Tibet was established in March 1994 during my visit to Parliament in Wellington at which I addressed a few members of Parliament who were gathered to hear me put the case of Tibet before them. After my speech and questions and answers I was asked to leave the room so that the members could discuss this amongst themselves. Then I was called in. I was delighted to learn that they had decided for form the Parliament Lobby Group for Tibet and Mr Ian Revell was elected as the Chairman. I was to keep in touch with him on the subject of Tibet and he would let the others know about the latest information on Tibet.
Mr. Ian Revell was chairman of the lobby group from 1994 – 1999. Ian lost his seat to labour that year and it was then co-chaired by Dr. Nick Smith (National) and Tim Barnett (Labour) from 2000- 2008. During the 2008 election, many parliamentarians lost their seat or resigned from Parliament. National became the government and Dr. Nick Smith was appointed as a Minister of the government, which affectively ruled him out as a chairman of Parliamentary Lobby Group for Tibet; therefore we had to start all over.
With assistance of Mr. Ian Revell we started to set about rejuvenating the PLG for Tibet. I had invited all MP’s who were not holding government portfolios to join the PLG for Tibet, and many responded favourably. So Ian booked the room for the meeting on Wednesday 25th November 2009. Ian and I flew down to Wellington for the meeting. Unfortunately for us that day government was sitting in urgency for the emission trading debate and many MP’s couldn’t come. The meeting was set for 3.30 pm right in the middle of the debate. We were delighted that the following MP’s attended the meeting
Apologies
In attendance
Ian Revell, former Chairman PLG for Tibet, chaired the meeting and outlined the historical activities of the PLG and the level of current international support amongst parliamentary lobby groups for Tibet. He tabled the Declaration from the Fifth World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet, meeting in Rome on the 18th and 19th of November 2009 which was given to him by me
I spoke of the current Tibetan situation and of my heartfelt hope that the situation will be resolved within the lifespan of the current Dalai Lama. I asked the MPs to reconvene the PLG and keep the Tibetan situation before the House and the people of New Zealand, and invited the PLG to meet with the Dalai Lama in Auckland on December 2009 and hear first hand the current situation for Tibetans.
After some questions, members decided amongst themselves that the new Parliamentary Lobby Group for Tibet will be co-chaired by Sue Kedgley MP (Greens) and Darien Fenton MP (Labour). They will keep cross party members informed of any information they receive in relation to Tibet.
The PLG for Tibet will meet in the New Year and formulate a strategy to help Tibet.