Dharamshala: As part of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s Europe Tibet Advocacy, on December 10, 2024, a delegation from the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, consisting of MP Yeshi Dolma and Geshe Lharampa Atuk Tseten, began their Tibet advocacy effort in the Netherlands, meeting with officials from the Foreign Ministry and others.

The two MPs departed from New Delhi on December 9 and arrived at Amsterdam Airport, where they were welcomed by Representative Rigzin Choedon of Office of Tibet Brussels, former Director of the International Tibet Campaign Europe Tsering Jampa, and local Tibetan community leaders.

On the morning of December 10 at 8:00 AM, they visited the Amnesty International office where they met with staff members to brief them about the current critical situation in Tibet. They emphasized the importance of international organizations like Amnesty International supporting vulnerable nations facing human rights issues. They warned that if international organizations fail to support these nations, they might become tools of world powers, defeating the purpose of establishing such organizations. On behalf of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, they also requested that a fact-finding delegation be sent to Tibet to investigate the current situation, regardless of whether the Chinese government accepts it. The meeting was reportedly positive, and they later received a note indicating that Tibet-related issues would be given attention.

At 9:30 AM, they met with Ms. Kim Peters, Senior Policy Officer for China desk, and Ms. Mariska Meijerhof, Human Rights Policy Officer at the Dutch Foreign Ministry. During the hour-long meeting, the MPs briefed them about the current critical situation in Tibet and China’s position. The officials showed great interest and asked questions about the situation in Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation, and the Panchen Lama’s status. After detailed explanations, the officials promised to support the Tibetan cause and implement the points raised in their petition.

At 2:30 PM, coinciding with International Human Rights Day, a joint protest was organized at Dam Square in Amsterdam by Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, and Southern Mongolians who are suffering under Chinese Communist rule. The two Tibetan MPs, the President of the Tibetan Association in the Netherlands, and former Director of the International Tibet Campaign Europe Tsering Jampa gave speeches about Tibet. Representatives from the Uyghur, Hong Kong, and Southern Mongolian communities also spoke, followed by protest slogans and demonstrations against the Chinese Communist government.