7th WPCT 2019 Riga Latvia.

TENTATIVE PROGRAM.

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Arrival at Hotel

14:00  Registration, Main Lobby, Hotel

19:30-21:00    Reception dinner by Latvian Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet followed by Cultural Performances by Latvian Cultural Group
Hotel Bellevue.        

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

08:30            Departure to conference hall

09:00            Registration at Conference Hall        

Inaugural Ceremony: Video Statement by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

09:30-11:00

• Welcome and Introduction by Hon. Uldis Budriķis, Deputy Chairman of Latvian Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet.

• Address by Hon. Pema Jungney, Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile

• Video Statement by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

• Address by Chief Guests Arnis Buiķis

• Vote of thanks by hon. member of LPGST

• Master of Ceremony by hon. member of LPGST

11:00-11:30        Tea Break

Session I - Briefing Session: Challenges before the Tibetan People Today

11:30-12:30        Chair: Hon. Member of LPGST

Address by Hon. Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay

        Question and Comments

12:30-14:00        Lunch

Session II- Panel Session

14:00-15:30    Chair: Michael Van Walt Praag, Senior Fellow, Institute of Social Sciences, University of California at Davis. Presentation on his research book "The Status of Tibet: History, Rights and Prospects in International Law"

• China-Tibet History                                                                                                         

   yet to be conformed

• 'Asia and specifically, India's role in Tibet's issue'   

   yet to be conformed                                                                                 

• 'The Tibetan Plateau and its current Environment Situation'    

Mr. Tempa Gyaltsen, Head of the Environment and Development Desk, Tibet Policy Institute, Central Tibetan Administration.

Question & Answer

15:30-16:00        Tea Break

Session III- Briefing Session by Hon. Parliamentarians

16:00-17:30        Chair: …

Sharing of views and suggestions by Hon. Parliamentarians.

17:50            Departure to Hotel by Shuttle Mini Bus

19:00            Dinner at Restaurant of Hotel

Thursday, May 9, 2019

 Breakfast (included with hotel vouchers)

08:45        Departure by Shuttle Mini Bus for Conference Hall        

Session IV- Panel Session

09:30-11:00 Chair: Mr. Mathew Meca, Former Member of Italian Parliament and Co-Chairperson of INPaT, President of International Campaign for Tibet.

• 'Status of US policy onTibet':

 yet to be conformed

'Policies of Eurpoean Union on Tibet':

yet to be conformed

Question & Answer

11:00-11:30 hrs    Tea Break

        Session V- Briefing Session by Hon. Parliamentarians

11:30-12:30        Chair by ...

12:30-14:00        Lunch

Session VI- Division of Working Group

14:00-15:00        Division of Working Groups & Meeting of Working Groups

15:00-15:30        Tea Break

        Session VII- Working Group Discussion on Action Plan

15:30-17:30        Report of Working Groups and Discussion

Discussion on the Riga Declaration

17:50            Departure to Hotel by Shuttle Mini Bus

 19:30-21:00    Farewell Dinner by Latvian Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet&Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile

            Cultural Performance by …

Friday, May 10, 2019

Breakfast (included with hotel vouchers)

08:45   Departure by Shuttle Mini Bus for Conference Hall

    Session VIII- Adoption of 7th WPCT 2019 Riga Latvia Declaration and Action Plan

09:30    Chairpersons: Honourable Thomas Mann, Chair of International Network of Parliamentarians on Tibet (INPaT) and Hon. (APIPFT) Mr. Michael Van Walt Praag, Senior Fellow, Institute of Social Sciences, University of California at Davis.

09:40       Adoption of the 7th WPCT 2019 Riga Latvia Declaration

10:20      Presentation and Adoption of the 7th WPCT Action Plan

11:00-11:30        Tea Break

Session IX- Closing Ceremony

11:30-13:00    

• Remarks by Hon. Chairman of Latvian Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet

• Address by Chief Guests (Vitautas Landsbergis)

• Vote of thanks by Hon. Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, Deputy Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile

Press Release

***End of 7th World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet***

Press Release,7th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet

Today, the 7th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet (WPCT) concluded in Riga, Latvia.

The Convention was hosted by the Latvian Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet and supported by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE), in close association with the International Network of Parliamentarians on Tibet (INPaT). The Convention had strong participation of parliamentarians from all over the world, including members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.

The WPCT expresses solidarity with the people of Tibet and their cause. Notwithstanding pressure from the Government of the PRC not to attend, Members of Parliaments (MP) from all over the world attended the 7th WPCT.

The WPCT expresses grave concern about the continuing unacceptable situation in Tibet, particularly the ongoing destruction of Tibet’s culture and language and persistent violations of human rights. The parliamentarians are alarmed at the environmental degradation of the Tibetan Plateau, which impacts the whole world.

The WPCT is also very concerned about the self-immolation of more than 150 Tibetans in protest at China’s repressive rule and who called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

The conference participants urge the Chinese government to resume talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama, which they have refused to do since 2010, despite urgings from the international community. They also insist that Beijing’s precondition, namely that the Dalai Lama publicly accept China’s claim that “Tibet has been a part of China since ancient times,” is entirely unacceptable. In its Riga Declaration adopted today, the Convention affirms that in fact Tibet has never been part of China and rejects Beijing’s self-serving historical narrative.

The significance of holding the Convention in Riga was particularly noted by everyone, since the Baltic States suffered the same fate as Tibet when they were occupied by the Soviet Union until the recovery of their independence in 1991. Tibet was invaded by Communist China a decade after the invasion of the Baltic States, but still remains under illegal occupation.

Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi sent a message of solidarity and urged that Chinese officials be held accountable for their repressive campaign in Tibet. She encouraged MPs from all over the world to adopt their own versions of the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, an important piece of legislation adopted by the US Congress and signed into law by the US President in December 2018. The Act will result in restrictions on travel of Chinese officials and others in the US unless Beijing lifts restrictions on access to Tibet by US citizens, including diplomats, journalists and parliamentarians.

The Convention found it totally unacceptable for the Chinese Communist Government to interfere in the centuries old religious tradition of selecting the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama sent a video message in which he emphasised the importance of saving Tibet’s environment and culture and urged MPs to continue to support a negotiated solution for Tibet.

The WPCT recognises in its Declaration that the Middle Way Approach, a compromise proposal which calls for genuine autonomy within the PRC and which the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan government in exile) have been pursuing for many years, remains the most viable solution to resolve the Sino-Tibetan conflict.