PRESSE RELEASE Parliamentary delegation to Tibet
A cross-political delegation from the Norwegian Parliament led by Vice President of Parliement, Olav Gunnar Ballo (Labour) will visit Tibet from 9-17 November. The other members of delegation are Olav Akselsen (AP), Solveig Horne (FRP), Sonja Sjøli (H), May-Helen Molvær Grimstad (Christian People's Party), Rune Skjælaaen (SP) and Gunvald Ludvigsen (V). In addition to Lhasa, the delegation will be visiting the cities Gyantse and Shigatse. The visit will also include a stay in Beijing. The program in Tibet includes discussions with a number of representatives of local authorities, visiting a school and a briefing on important religious sites. "The purpose of the visit is to increase knowledge of the political, economic and social conditions in Tibet" said Mr Olav Gunner Ballo head of the delegation. In the meetings with local authorities, the delegation aims to have a broad dialogue, including issues related to human rights. The delegation tried to have Tibetan from Norway as a translator, but the Chinese authorities rejected this proposal. "This is the first official delegation after the March protests and I hope that the delegation will understand that their program will be severely controlled by the Chinese authorities," said Chundak Koren of the Norwegian Tibet Committee. "We were also happy that we had the opportunity to brief the delegation on the real situation in Tibet."
Contact: Head of the delegation Olav Gunnar Ballo Vice President of Parliement (mobile:+47 99 26 88 83)
Chungdak Koren Norwegian Tibet Committee(+47 95024443)

Den norske Tibet Komité Menneskerettighethuset Tordenskioldsgt 6b 0160
Oslo
Tel: 22479222
Fax: 22479201
Email: info@tibet.no
www.tibet.no