Dear Friends:
On Thursday 27 August, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou announced that he has agreed to allow the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan. The Dalai Lama had been invited by leaders of the Taiwanese municipalities devastated by the recent typhoon to console survivors. The visit is planned for August 31 to September 4. President Ma's agreement is somewhat of a surprise as he has been forging close ties with the Chinese government and as recently as last December refused the Dalai Lama to visit to Taiwan.
For news reports go to:
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=25393
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=25392
Recommended Action
Send emails to President Ma welcoming the decision, encouraging him to meet the Dalai Lama during the visit and to also address the Tibet situation directly with Chinese government. Please send your email as soon as possible (the visit is due to start on Monday 31 August).
Points to raise in your email:
- welcome the decision to invite the Dalai Lama to Taiwan.
- indicate that you believe this visit will be an important step in furthering the relationship between the Taiwanese and Tibetan people.
- state that you also believe that the invitation will not harm the Cross Straits relationship with the People's Republic of China.
- suggest that President Ma meets publicly with the Dalai Lama during the visit.
- call on President Ma, as a leader of a free and democratic country, to take the opportunity of the Dalai Lama's visit to address the current situation in Tibet directly with the Chinese government.
To send an email to President Ma:
- go to the website of the Office of the President of Taiwan: http://www.president.gov.tw/en/
- click on the Contact Us link on left side of page
- click on "President" link in message
- click on "Write to the President" at bottom
- fill in form as requested and type in your message.
Please let me know if you get a reply (other than a standard acknowledgement). Thanks.
Best wishes
Giovanni Vassallo