Representative Rigzin Genkhang had a bilateral meeting with MEP Rasa Jukneviciene who also served as Minister of defense of Lithuania. During the meeting, the two sides recalled Lithuania’s special relationship with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the similar history and fate the Lithuanians share with the Tibetan people. Though this was their first meeting, MEP Juknevience said it felt like meeting a relative after a long time.

During the meeting, Representative Genkhang briefed MEP Jukneviciene on the dire situation in Tibet owing to the Chinese government’s repressive and targeted policies aimed at the complete erasure of Tibetan identity. The latter listened to the briefing with a lot of sympathy and could easily relate to the struggle of the Tibetan people because of her experience under the Soviet Union.

Representative Genkhang recently called on MEP Isabel Santos from Portugal, a long time friend of Tibet in the European Parliament to update her on the dire human rights situation in Tibet.

She briefed her on the overall deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet and highlighted some of the most serious issues such as the colonial style boarding schools, mass DNA collection drive, self-immolation, among others.

MEP Santos listened to Representative Genkhang’s presentation attentively and expressed sadness at the unrelenting repression against the peaceful Tibetan people.

Both MEPs assured full and continued support to the just cause of Tibet. They agreed to work together and take concrete actions to highlight the aforementioned issues in the European Parliament.