Clarification on 140 Dead in Tibet

Friday, 22 August 2008, 10:03 a.m.

Lodéve, France: Following an
article published by the French newspaper Le Monde (21 August), His
Holiness the Dalai Lama is reported to have said that 140 people were
recently killed in eastern Tibet.

We would like to clarify that His Holiness did not mention any
number of casualties. In response to a question from the journalist
about recent news stating that Chinese troops had fired on a
demonstration, His Holiness clearly stated that we had no specific
information on the number of casualties. In this particular interview
His Holiness said: “We just heard that, but no possibility to
cross-check. So I don’t know.”

Since receiving this news, efforts have been made without
success to communicate with the local affected population in Karze,
(Kham, eastern Tibet, Sichuan province).

Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Lerabling, Lodéve, France
21 August 2008, 16:00 hr