Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, April 16: The Dutch House of Representatives on Tuesday passed three key resolutions addressing China’s gross human rights violations in Tibet and rejecting Chinese interference in the reincarnation of the exiled spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The resolutions highlight ongoing abuses by Chinese authorities, particularly against religious and ethnic minorities such as Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Mongols, who continue to face systemic discrimination, harassment, forced re-education, and imprisonment. It called on the Dutch Cabinet to support the appointment of an EU Special Representative for Tibet and to push for a comprehensive EU-Tibet policy akin to the US “Resolve Tibet Act.” It also called for updates to be provided to the Chamber prior to the upcoming EU-China Summit.
Furthermore, as the Dalai Lama approaches his 90th birthday, sparking discussions about his succession, the Dutch lawmakers expressed concern over Chinese Communist Party interference in the traditional Tibetan process of selecting their spiritual leader. The resolution urged the Dutch government to oppose such interference unequivocally in both bilateral engagements and multilateral forums.
The resolutions were spearheaded by Dutch MPs Jan Paternotte, Isa Kahraman, D.G. Boswijk, E. Van der Burg, S.R.T. Van Baarle, T.M.T. van der Lee, D.G.M. Cedar, Don Ceder, Chris Stoffer, Martin Oostenbrink, and Joi NB.
Welcoming the move, Representative Rigzin Genkhang of the Office of Tibet in Brussels expressed deep appreciation for the Dutch Parliament’s stance. “This resolution offers a glimmer of hope to Tibetans everywhere, especially to those inside Tibet,” she said. “We are deeply grateful to the Dutch House of Representatives for acknowledging our suffering and standing with us. The support of democratic nations like the Netherlands strengthens our resolve to continue our peaceful freedom struggle.”
The resolutions followed a recent visit by head of the Tibetan polity President Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to the Netherlands. During the trip, he was invited to appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Dutch Parliament, where he engaged lawmakers on critical issues such as China’s repression in Tibet and its meddling in the succession of the Dalai Lama.
In response, the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands sharply criticized the Dutch Parliament’s actions, labeling the resolutions a “gross interference in internal affairs.” The Embassy said in a statement, “In disregard of China’s strong opposition and solemn representations, the House of Representatives of the Netherlands adopted a series of anti-China motions, which seriously violates the long-held position and commitments of the Dutch side and the basic norms governing international relations, grossly interferes in China’s domestic affairs, undermines China’s core interests, and sends a wrong signal to the anti-China separatists forces. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the move.”
