‘Situation in Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world’

Saturday, 22 March 2008, 7:10 p.m.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama with US Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Dharamshala on Friday (Photos: Sangjey Kep)

Dharamshala:The Tibetans in
Dharamshala yesterday, despite in somber mood of the urgent situation
inside Tibet, gave a warm welcome to the Speaker of the US house of
Representative Nancy Pelosi and prominent delegations of the US
congress, who appealed Chinese leadership to hold negotiation with His
Holiness the Dalai Lama to resolve the issue of Tibet.

Expressing appreciation for the warm welcome extended by the
Tibetans, Speaker Pelosi said, “It is our destiny, that we are here
with you at this difficult time to help the people of Tibet.”

Speaker Pelosi underlined that the “situation in Tibet is a
challenge to the conscience of the world” and the world should know
what is happening inside Tibet.

US Speaker addressing the gathering at Tsuglakhang(main temple)

“If the freedom loving people throughout the world do
not speak out against Chinaïž’s oppression in China and Tibet, we have
lost all moral authority to speak on behalf of human rights anywhere in
the world,” the Speaker added.

She said that Holiness the Dalai Lama is an embodiment of
non-violence and Chinaïž’s accusation against His Holiness as an
instigator for the Tibet protests makes “no sense”, adding that an
investigation should be carried out to know the fact.

She said the Chinese government should engage in negotiation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to resolve the issue of Tibet.

She further said that China should give access to journalists into
Tibet to see first hand situation in Tibet and provide medical
assistance to those Tibetans, who have been injured in the protests.