US concerned over violence in Tibet

January 25th, 2012 - 6:54 pm ICT by IANS  

Dharamsala, Jan 25 (IANS) Expressing concern over violence in Tibet, the US has urged China to address its counterproductive policies and resume talks with the Tibetan exiles.

“I am gravely concerned by reports of violence and continuing heightened tensions in Tibetan areas of China, including reports of security forces in Sichuan province opening fire on protesters, killing some and injuring others,” a Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) statement said here Wednesday, quoting US Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues Maria Otero.

She said the US government consistently and directly has raised the issue of Tibetan self-immolations with the Chinese government.

“The US government repeatedly has urged the Chinese government to address the counterproductive policies in Tibetan areas that have created tensions and that threaten the distinct religious, cultural and linguistic identity of the Tibetan people,” she said.

Calling on the Chinese to resume talks with the exiled Tibetans, Otero said: “We call on the Chinese government to resume substantive, results-oriented dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives to address the underlying grievances of China’s Tibetan population.”

The CTA has said 16 Tibetans had set themselves afire in the past 12 months to protest China’s policies and for their demand of freedom. Out of these, 12 succumbed to their injuries.

Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay has sought international intervention over police atrocities against the locals in Tibet.

“We urge the international community to not remain passive… It’s high time for it to intervene to prevent further bloodshed,” Sangay, who is head of the CTA based here, said in a statement Tuesday.

India is home to around 100,000 Tibetans and the Tibetan government-in-exile, which never won recognition from any country.

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