Dalai Lama - trading Nobel Principles for salmon?
To: The Norwegian government with special attention to Prime Minister Mrs. Erna Solberg, President of the Parliament Mr. Olemic Thommessen and Foreign Minister Mr. Borge Brende.
Norway is fortunate to host and administer the Nobel Peace Prize (NPP). Dalai Lama received the prize in 1989 for "the struggle of the liberation of Tibet and the efforts for a peaceful resolution".
Dalai Lama will visit Norway at the 7th of May on a private visit to celebrate the 25th anniversary for receiving the NPP.
It is an established tradition that NPP lauerates visiting Oslo get to meet the President of the Parliament and also either the Prime Minister or the Foreign Minister.
China is opposing any official person in any country to meet with Dalai Lama, and threatens those who do with sanctions. An unofficial requirement for establishing normal relations with Norway is that the NPP shall never again be awarded a Chinese dissident ( Xiaobo Liu in 2010). The NPP comity is an independent body, official Norway is put under pressure. Keen to reestablish normal political and business relations (mainly farmed salmon and various industrial items) with China, the ruling rightwing coalition in Norway seem to fall to their knees for the pressure of Chinese authorities. No official person seem to be willing meet or honor Dalai Lama during his visit in Norway.
Norway is playing the role as a moral watchdog in various peace keeping missions as well as a promoter of human and democratic rights around the world. It would be a disastrous signal to those fighting for freedom and justice that one of the most economically able countries in the world fall for pressure for a semi- totalitarian regime in its attempt to silence on of the great advocates of dialogue and non-violent opposition of all times. It would be a clear signal to other oppressors that human rights come second to economic and political interests, and that political pressure works to silence human rights activists.
There is still time to change the minds of the leading Norwegian politicians. The majority of Norwegians disagrees with the submissive political view and an intense ongoing debate in the media could make the Norwegian leaders think twice. International attention could help turn the tide in time, but the time is short. Please write a short notice to let Norwegian leaders know that world think Dalai Lama be welcome, as he deserves, with open arms in the NPP city of Oslo. At the same time, send a clear signal to the Chinese leaders that you cannot silence those promoting human rights abuse by miss- use of political pressure!
NB! This is not criticism of either Chinese politics or salmon farming, but strong criticism of spineless politicians compromising basic principles of human rights and common decency!
Please write your personal message the the following recipients:
Prime Minister: erna.solberg@smk.dep.no
PM’s office communications: trude.maseide@smk.dep.no
Foreign Minister: utenriksminister@mfa.no
President of the Parliament: olemic.thommessen@stortinget.no