His Holiness appeals to the International Community
Friday, 4 April 2008, 11:21 a.m.
Dharamshala:His Holiness the
Dalai Lama has expressed his 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,” His Holiness stated on 2 April.
His Holiness said, “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.
His Holiness said, “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,” His
Holiness said.
