Dalai Lama calls for international probe into Tibet crackdown; speaks of
"cultural genocide"
International Herald Tribune
Dalai Lama calls for international probe into Tibet crackdown; speaks of
"cultural genocide"
The Associated Press
Sunday, March 16, 2008
DHARMSALA, India: The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama the
public voice of a region now largely sealed off from the rest of the
world called Sunday for an international investigation into the
crackdown against protesters in his homeland, which he said is facing a
"cultural genocide."
"Some respected international organization can find out what the
situation is in Tibet and what is the cause," he told re****ters in
Dharmsala, the Indian hill town where his government-in-exile has been
based since he fled Tibet in the wake of a failed uprising in the late
1950s.
"Whether intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of cultural
genocide is taking place," the Dalai Lama said referring to China's
policy of encouraging the ethnic Han majority to migrate to the region,
restrictions on Buddhist temples and re-education programs for monks.
His comments came after protests by Buddhist monks against Chinese rule
in Tibet turned violent, leading to a crackdown by Chinese authorities
in the region's capital, Lhasa.
It remains unclear, though, exactly what is going on there, since China
heavily restricts foreign media access to the region, and has put Lhasa
under lockdown.
Thubten Samphel, spokesman for the government-in-exile, said multiple
sources inside Tibet had counted at least 80 corpses since the violence
broke out. China's official news agency Xinhua had earlier re****ted at
least 10 civilians were burned to death Friday.
But even as Chinese forces appeared to reassert control in Lhasa, big
protests erupted Saturday in China's Gansu Province.
"It is definitely spreading," said Tenzin Taklha, a senior aide to the
Dalai Lama. "Demonstrations are definitely going on in different
monasteries in difference places. But whether the people are being shot
and killed we don't know."
Speaking to re****ters after leading several hundred Tibetans in prayer,
the Dalai Lama said he had been asked by activists inside Tibet not to
ask them to curtail the protests, but said he remained a firm believer
in nonviolence.
He added that every time the Tibetans have risen up against Chinese
rule, they are ruthlessly crushed.
"Particularly in our case, violence is like suicide," he said.
The Dalai Lama said he was particular fearful of more bloodshed and
deaths after a deadline imposed by China for demonstrators to turn
themselves in by the end of Monday.
"The Chinese military is determined to crush and the Tibetan side
determined to resist," he said.
Beijing maintains that Tibet is historically a part of China. But many
Tibetans argue that it was virtually independent for centuries and
accuse China of trying to crush Tibetan culture by swamping it with Han
people, China's majority ethnic group.
With Tibet sealed off by Chinese authorities and only bits of
information trickling out, Tibetan exiles have stepped up their efforts
to highlight their cause and express solidarity with the protesters
inside the Himalayan region.
Nearly 2,000 Tibetan exiles staged a protest in Dharmsala, the
headquarters of Tibet's government-in-exile, chanting "Long live the
Dalai Lama!" and "Down with Hu Jintao!" in reference to the Chinese
president.
At the temple of the Dalai Lama, they waved Tibetan flags and posters
that said "No killings in Tibet, No Olympics in China."
"We have to ****ft the Olympic spotlight to the cause of Tibetans while
the whole world is watching and show them the true color of the Chinese
government," said Tsewang Rigzin, president of the Tibetan Youth Congress.
The Olympics begin in China in August.
Other gatherings Saturday in western China, Australia, Nepal and India's
capital descended into violence when police tried to disperse crowds of
distraught exiles.
Asked Sunday if he worried there could be a bloodbath in Tibet, the
Dalai Lama said he was very worried about what could happen.
"I appeal to all, including the Chinese leaders," he said. "So now we
need miracle power. But miracles seem unrealistic."
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