- Whilst the world is exploring the concept of justice

International Press Release by Justice For The World (JFW) • Human Rights Awareness Foundation

The Dutch Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende, should immediately revoke his decision to deliberately and strategically not meet with the Dalai Lama. He had originally planned to personally meet the Dalai Lama early next June, but now refuses to, after being pressured by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The decision of the Dutch Prime Minister has been criticized by other Dutch politicians, to which the Prime Minister's response was that he wishes not to undermine his efforts for an open dialogue with the 'Prime Minister' of China about human rights issues such as Tibet.

Though his intentions may be good, his decision gives out the wrong signal and the reason for the decision may attest to the idea that the dialogues about human rights with the CCP are merely arbitrary, and not based on the right foundation of respect to begin with. These dialogues on human rights have not contributed to any improvement whatsoever. Such illusion of improvement or chance thereof may even contribute to the world turning a blind eye to cultural suppression of Tibet and the now almost ten years of persecution in China of the peaceful yoga-like qigong practice known as Falun Gong.

• Balkenende (2nd L) at the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh (License)

The Dutch Prime Minister, who in the past had attested to being highly intellectual, should not be dictated by the Chinese Communist Party into refusing to meet with the Dalai Lama. The CCP keeps misrepresenting the Dalai Lama's words and human rights issues and is thereby underestimating the world's intellect, including that of the Chinese worldwide, most of whom, both in and outside of China, have grown particularly critical of the Party.