An appeal from His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Tenzin Taklha, Joint Secretary, Mobile + 91 (09816021813)
I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to the world
leaders, Parliamentarians, NGOs and members of the public who have
expressed their concern over the recent deeply saddening and tragic
events in Tibet. I am also grateful for their efforts to persuade the
Chinese authorities to exercise restraint in dealing with the peaceful
protesters, while at the same time calling for meaningful dialogue to
resolve the issue.
I believe the recent demonstrations and protests are a
manifestation of the deep-rooted resentment not only of the Tibetan
people in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), but also in the
outlying traditional Tibetan areas now incorporated into Qinghai,
Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, where there exist substantial
communities of ethnic Tibetans.
According to reliable sources, the Chinese authorities have
deployed large contingents of troops in these traditional Tibetan
regions and have not only started to crack down heavily on the Tibetans
allegedly involved in the unrest, but also sealed off the areas where
protests have taken place.
I therefore appeal for your continued support in calling for an
immediate end to the current crackdown, the release of all those who
have been arrested and detained, and the provision of proper medical
treatment to the injured. We are particularly concerned about the lack
of adequate medical facilities, as there are reports of many injured
Tibetans being afraid to go to Chinese-run hospitals and clinics.
I would also request you to encourage the sending of an
independent international body, to investigate the unrest and its
underlying causes, as well as allowing the media and international
medical teams to visit the affected areas. Their presence will not only
instill a sense of reassurance in the Tibetan people, but will also
exercise a restraining influence on the Chinese authorities.
THE DALAI LAMA
April 2, 2008