By IANS,
Dharamsala : The British government supports the middle path policy advocated by Tibetans and has expressed its concern over the suppression of human rights in Tibet, a British parliamentarian said here Friday.
“We have expressed serious concern over the suppression of human rights of Tibetans inside Tibet and the British government has raised the issue with the senior Chinese leaders,” British MP Fabian Hamilton told reporters here.
He said, “Our government supports the middle path policy advocated by Tibetans and the autonomous Tibet should enable the Tibetan people to determine their own future”.
Hamilton was part of a five-member delegation that was visiting here to interact with the functionaries of the Tibetan government-in-exile, which is based here.
The other members of the delegation were Cathy Jamieson, James Gray, Nic Dakin and Simon Hughes.
On preservation of Tibetan culture in exile, the MP said: “We really have to congratulate those young Tibetans who are working so hard to maintain their distinct and fantastic culture, which really inspires us.”
Hamilton also praised Tibetan prime minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay, with whom the delegation met Thursday.
“He is a very impressive man… I think Lobsang Sangay will take the Tibetan community a long, long way.”
Talking about the tragic acts of self-immolation in Tibet, Hughes said: “We feel and share the terrible pain of the monks in taking the decision to self-immolate… We have to work in every way possible to give hope to the Tibetans that they would get the dignity to live their natural life.”
The delegation also met spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in his official palace and promised to encourage the British universities to enrol students from Tibet on scholarships.
The Dalai Lama along with many of his supporters fled Tibet and took refuge in India when Chinese troops moved in and took control of Lhasa in 1959.
India is home to around 100,000 Tibetans.