Representative Rigzin Genkhang met with H.E. Wim Geerts, Dutch Ambassador for human rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. During the meeting Representative Genkhang expressed her gratitude to Ambassador Geerts for his recent expression of concern on the situation in Derge and calling on the Chinese government for the immediate release of those arrested for exercising their fundamental rights.

Representative Genkhang further briefed Ambassador Geerts on the critical situation in Tibet highlighting among other things, Chinese interference in the succession of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the forced assimilation of Tibetan children in Chinese state-run boarding schools aimed at eradicating Tibetan identity and culture.

Ambassador Geerts reaffirmed his government’s continued support and informed Representative Genkhang that Prime Minister Rutte raised the issue of Tibet with his Chinese counterpart during his visit to China in March this year.

Ambassador Geerts was previously the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands to China and is well acquainted with the situation in Tibet.