DHARAMSHALA: The US embassy in China has released photos of Ambassador Gary Locke’s recent visit to Tibet, a region tightly controlled and repressed by the Chinese government.
The photos show Ambassador Locke’s meeting with local officials and visits to schools and monasteries, including Jokhang and Gaden monastery and , in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
State Department’s spokesperson, Mr Patrick Ventrell, said Ambassador Locke called on the local authorities to preserve Tibet’s language, culture, and religion, and expressed our deep concerns over self-immolations.
He said the US government would continue to make the best efforts to establish a consulate in Lhasa.
Since 2009, over 119 Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest against the Chinese government’s continued occupation and repression of Tibet. The self-immolators have called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans. Despite repeated requests from the international community, the Chinese government has imposed severe restrictions on foreign diplomats and journalists from visiting Tibet to assess the real situation there.
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