SOUTH AFRICA AND THE DALAI LAMA

Early day motion 1172, tabled 24 March 2009 by Tim Loughton (Conservative). Signed by 48 members.

That this House deeply regrets the decision by South Africa to refuse a visa to the Dalai Lama to attend a peace conference in Johannesburg this week; questions the priorities of the South African government in taking such a course of action so as not to upset relations with China; and calls on the South African government to reverse its decision in the interests of promoting free speech and pursuing a peaceful solution to settling the longstanding dispute over the autonomy and human rights of the people of Tibet.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 15, Conservative 8, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1.