Focus Taiwan, 21 February 2012

Taipei, Feb. 21 (CNA) Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has expressed concern for Tibetans who have long suffered oppression under Chinese rule, according to a DPP think tank Tuesday. 

 In a meeting with Dawa Tsering, chairman of the Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsai said it is painful to see Tibetan monks and young people choosing self-immolation in the fight against political and religious oppression, the think tank said. 

 The DPP chairwoman expressed concern over the current status of Tibetans and voiced support for the Free Tibet movement, said Hsiao Bi-khim, vice president of the DPP’s New Frontier Foundation. 

 The statements were made in response to a letter written by the Dalai Lama to the DPP chairwoman, expressing his positive view of Tsai and the DPP’s efforts in the Jan. 14 presidential and legislative elections. 

 Dawa Tsering presented the letter to Tsai during their meeting Tuesday. 

 In a separate statement, Tsai said she appreciated the Dali Lama’s interest in Taiwan’s democratic development and his advocacy for human rights. 

 Although the Dalai Lama is no longer a political figure, he continues in his spiritual role to promote the universal value of human rights, Tsai said. 

 Human rights and democracy should be given prominence by the Taiwan government in its interactions with China, said Tsai, who lost the Jan. 14 presidential election to the incumbent Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang. 

 She urged the Ma administration to break its silence on the Tibet issue and condemn China’s oppression of the Tibetan people. 

 (By Lin Shen-hsu and Nell Shen)