Dharamsala Welcome Tibet Opening, but Urges Restraint
Friday, 27 June 2008, 5:25 p.m.
Dharamshala: “We would welcome
the opening of Tibet to foreign tourists and the reported release of
over 1000 Tibetans arrested following the recent wide spread unrest in
the ‘Tibet Autonomous Region’ and outlying Tibetan areas,” said Kalon
Kesang Y Takla, Kalon for the Department of Information and
International of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Kalon Takla said: “At the same time, according to reliable reports,
to our dismay, those detained face severe toruture and ill-treatment at
the hands of prison officials reportedly with a view to extracting
confession.”
She said: “We would therefore strongly urge the Chinese
authorities to exercise restraint in dealing with those allegedly
involved in the recent protests and demonstrations and give a fair
trial to those being accused.”
“Further, we also request for provision of adequate medical
facilities to the injured Tibetans, including those living in remote,
rural areas,” she added.
In this file photo, a Peaceful protest march by Tibetans in Amdo Labrang, Sangchu County, Kanlho “TAP”, Gansu Province, on 14 March 2008 |
China’s state media reported Wednesday that Tibet has re-opened to foreign tourists after a gap of more than three months.
Tibetans have protested and continue to protest against the
Chinese government’s repressive policies by staging peaceful
demonstrations in many parts of the three traditional provinces of
Tibet. The violent clampdown by the Chinese government resulted in
hundreds of Tibetans dead, thousands arrested and injured.
China’s official Xinhua news agency reported last week that
Chinese government has released 1,157 people, who were charged with
minor offences. The Chinese government also claimed that defendants
from minority ethnic groups were provided with interpreters at court
sessions, which ensured their rights.
A few days before the Chinese government’s release of arrested
Tibetans, London-based rights group, Amnesty International, reported
over a thousand people detained without charge in the ‘Tibet Autonomous
Region’ and the neighbouring Tibetan areas.
The
report said hundreds of people languish in Chinese prisons for
peacefully expressing their opinions, in appalling conditions and
without their relatives even knowing where they are.