DHARAMSHALA: The United States has called on China to Tibetans to express grievances freely, publicly, peacefully and without fear of retribution.

“Our lines and our policy have not changed. But we continue to call on the Chinese Government to permit Tibetans to express grievances freely, publicly, peacefully and without fear of retribution. And we’ve also urged the Chinese Government – and this goes back some time – to refrain from statements that denigrate the Dalai Lama and Tibet’s unique cultural, linguistic, and religious traditions,” State Department’s Acting Deputy Spokesperson Mr Patrick Ventrell said at a daily press briefing Thursday.

Since 2009, 117 Tibetans have set themselves on fire inside Tibet demanding freedom for Tibetans and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. The Central Tibetan Administration has consistently appealed and categorically discouraged Tibetans in Tibet from self-immolating as a form of protest.

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the democratically-elected leader of Tibetans and political successor to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who is currently on a visit to the US, has urged the US Congress to further strengthen its efforts to encourage the Chinese government to enter into a meaningful dialogue to resolve the Tibet issue peacefully.