SNP Dalai Lama snub still stands

Willie Rennie MSP put further pressure on the SNP government to arrange a meeting with the First Minister and the Dalai Lama at First Minister’s Questions today.

Commenting afterwards, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie MSP said:

“I am disappointed that the snub still stands. The SNP have shown no pluck, instead choosing to write off the three day tour as a “pastoral visit.”

“It’s not good enough.

“This is about making a stand on China’s human rights record, a country where 500,000 people are detained without trial and women are forced to have abortions on the orders of the government.

“Let’s not forget that throughout the Dalai Lama’s visit to the UK, the Chinese consul have brokered secret meetings with council officials and even threatened to withdraw Chinese athletes from Olympic training facilities in Leeds.

“Dundee City Council has removed its logo from the publicity material. They have failed to provide a speaker for the event.

“The SNP government continue to ignore calls for a government minister to meet with the Dalai Lama. Why are they so cautious about making a stand?

“This behaviour is unacceptable. This is not some spat between politicians. It’s an issue of human rights. It matters.

“The progressive beacon is in danger of being snuffed out if the Dalai Lama leaves Scotland without having formally met a single representative of the Scottish Government.”