Lyon Calls On Highlands To Light Candle For Tibet

1.30.50pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 7th Aug 2008

George Lyon and Councillor Hamish Wood

Top Scottish Lib Dem Euro candidate George Lyon has given his backing to a global campaign to highlight the fate of Tibet on the eve of the Beijing Olympics.

People right across the world are being asked to display a candle in their window from 9pm tonight (Thursday) until the end of tomorrow's opening ceremony to highlight the fate of the Himalayan kingdom, and those campaigning for the freedom of its people.

Mr Lyon's call came during a visit to the Highlands, during which he met Lib Dem councillor for Aird & Loch Ness, Hamish Wood, who has visited Tibet and experienced the persecution and fear which people there live under.

Commenting, George Lyon said:

"It's vital that the Olympic Games are not allowed to obscure China's shameful record on human rights, and on the treatment of Tibet in particular.

"There is much talk about the pollution problems in Beijing, but there is also a cloud of state-imposed censorship over these Games.

"In today's news, we read of a Highlander - Iain Thom - who has attempted to protest peacefully in China and has been arrested as a result. I hope people right across the Highlands will support Mr Thom and show that we won't let sport be used as a propaganda tool."

Hamish Wood added:

"I am very pleased that George Lyon, and very many others across the Highlands, are backing this campaign and showing that we won't forget the plight of Tibet.

"China has not delivered on its promises to clean up its act ahead of hosting the Olympics. Far from it, brutal repression of basic freedoms has been stepped up to minimise adverse publicity. It is up to all of us to show that violence and censorship won't work, and to stand up for the Tibetan people's right to live free from fear and to shape their own future."