‘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 China’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 China’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.

  (www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.)

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