Madam, - Kevin Lynch (April 19th) chooses to ignore all the facts that I spelt out about China's appalling treatment of Tibet, including my refutation of his misinformed claim about the Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures.
If I may reply to each of his four new assertions:
1. "It is disingenuous of Mr Steedman to suggest that the [Chinese] ambassador knew in advance what Mr Gormley was going to say. If he had, he would not have attended the Green Party conference."
The ambassador did know in advance because the Green Party advised him - and a member who attended the conference told me that the ambassador's two "minders" had to prompt him at the appropriate moment to leave. Perhaps it is Mr Lynch who should (to use his own words) try to understand the manner in which the Chinese government and political system works.
2. "Public embarrassment is a particular Chinese cultural sensitivity."
Indeed it is, but the ambassador chose to attend, knowing what was to be said, and to stage a public protest. Besides, if he is not embarrassed about the deaths, torture and oppression that the Chinese Communist Party government is inflicting on 6 million Tibetans - or, indeed, about the suffering inflicted on more than 20 million Chinese citizens currently in gulag-style prison camps - just how "embarrassed" is he likely to be over Mr Gormley's 48 words?
3. "Ireland's good relations with China are at risk. This has serious ramifications for Ireland's economy."
Again, Mr Lynch should try to understand how the Chinese government works. Many times in the past 20 years China has threatened dire economic consequences if this or that government should do something it doesn't like; but when countries wisely choose to ignore such threats, trade continues as before. At worst, commercial contracts due for signing are held back for a month or two.
I presume Mr Lynch is not suggesting that Ireland should ignore completely anything that might have "ramifications" for our economy. This would be to deny our own history and to echo the policy of appeasement followed by the British and French governments in Europe from 1933 to 1939.
4. "Change is happening and China should be supported in its efforts."
I agree that much economic and infrastructural development is happening in China and benefiting many people, but many others are being marginalised, while environmental pollution is a growing problem. In Tibet, development is designed to benefit Chinese settlers rather than Tibetans.
Change is also happening in human rights - but for the worse. To win the 2008 Olympics, China promised to improve human rights; instead, violations have intensified.
The real question is: How should Ireland develop its relationship with the People's Republic of China, while striving to end human rights abuses in China and find a solution to the colonial occupation of Tibet that would be acceptable to the Tibetan people? - Yours, etc,
NEIL STEEDMAN,
(Tibet Support Group - Ireland),
Whitepark,
Arklow,
Co Wicklow.