The Dalai Lama attacked China's human rights record yesterday, accusing it of "unimaginable and gross violations" in his Himalayan homeland.
"Repression continues to increase with numerous, unimaginable and gross violations of human rights, denial of religious freedom and politicization of religious issues," he told hundreds of flag-waving supporters on the 49th anniversary of his escape to India after an abortive uprising in Lhasa.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner's angry comments came in a speech in the Indian town of Dharamsala and contrasted sharply with what his critics say has been a "soft" approach on China.
PHOTO: AFP
"For nearly six decades Tibetans have had to live in a state of constant fear under Chinese repression," he said.
"All these take place as a result of the Chinese government's lack of respect of the Tibetan people," the 72-year-old told the gathering from his palace in this seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
He also complained that Tibet's language, customs and traditions were "gradually fading away" as Tibetans become "an insignificant minority" in their homeland.
Tibetans "have had to live in a state of constant fear, intimidation and suspicion under Chinese repression," he said.
The Dalai Lama, however, said that he would not abandon his call for autonomy in Tibet even though six rounds of talks with the Chinese since 2002 have yielded little result.
"During the past few years, Tibet has witnessed increased repression and brutality. In spite of these unfortunate developments my stand and determination to pursue the `Middle-Way' policy remain unchanged," he said.
He also said August's Beijing Olympics could be a golden opportunity for the international community to expose China over its treatment of Tibetans.
"Besides sending their athletes, the international community should remind the Chinese government of these issues ... China should prove herself a good host by providing these freedoms," he said.
Yesterday also marked the start of a symbolic march home by 100 Tibetans as part of protests ahead of the Beijing Olympics. Several thousand Tibetans, Indians and Westerners waved yellow, blue and red Tibetan flags and cheered on the Buddhist monks in red caps and 10 women who said they planned to make it over the Chinese border.
Italian parliamentarian Sergio D'Elia flagged off the symbolic home trek: "It's the duty of every freedom-loving person to support this march.
The organizers refused to reveal where any attempt would be made to cross the border but said it could take up to six months to reach the Tibetan capital Lhasa.
Tibetan refugees across the world also protested yesterday.
In Nepal, many people were hurt when police used batons to break up a march by about 1,000 Tibetans on the Chinese embassy.
In Greece, a dozen Tibetans activists held a torch-lighting ceremony in Ancient Olympia. Police prevented the Tibetan group, Team Tibet, from entering the Ancient Olympia stadium, and the ceremony took place outside the gates of the site's museum. The group aims to have its Tibetan Freedom Torch Relay pass through 50 cities and end inside Tibet on Aug. 8.
Greek police stopped Tibetan shot-putter Tsultim Golpe as she began her run and took her torch, handing it back later with the flame extinguished. They then escorted the group back to their hotels in Olympia. Officials from China's Athens embassy were in Olympia, filming the ceremony.
US President Donald Trump yesterday announced sweeping "reciprocal tariffs" on US trading partners, including a 32 percent tax on goods from Taiwan that is set to take effect on Wednesday. At a Rose Garden event, Trump declared a 10 percent baseline tax on imports from all countries, with the White House saying it would take effect on Saturday. Countries with larger trade surpluses with the US would face higher duties beginning on Wednesday, including Taiwan (32 percent), China (34 percent), Japan (24 percent), South Korea (25 percent), Vietnam (46 percent) and Thailand (36 percent). Canada and Mexico, the two largest US trading
China's military today said it began joint army, navy and rocket force exercises around Taiwan to "serve as a stern warning and powerful deterrent against Taiwanese independence," calling President William Lai (賴清德) a "parasite." The exercises come after Lai called Beijing a "foreign hostile force" last month. More than 10 Chinese military ships approached close to Taiwan's 24 nautical mile (44.4km) contiguous zone this morning and Taiwan sent its own warships to respond, two senior Taiwanese officials said. Taiwan has not yet detected any live fire by the Chinese military so far, one of the officials said. The drills took place after US Secretary
CHIP EXCEPTION: An official said that an exception for Taiwanese semiconductors would have a limited effect, as most are packaged in third nations before being sold The Executive Yuan yesterday decried US President Donald Trump’s 32 percent tariff on Taiwanese goods announced hours earlier as “unfair,” saying it would lodge a representation with Washington. The Cabinet in a statement described the pledged US tariffs, expected to take effect on Wednesday next week, as “deeply unreasonable” and “highly regrettable.” Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said that the government would “lodge a solemn representation” with the US Trade Representative and continue negotiating with Washington to “ensure the interests of our nation and industries.” Trump at a news conference in Washington on Wednesday announced a 10 percent baseline tariff on most goods
THUGGISH BEHAVIOR: Encouraging people to report independence supporters is another intimidation tactic that threatens cross-strait peace, the state department said China setting up an online system for reporting “Taiwanese independence” advocates is an “irresponsible and reprehensible” act, a US government spokesperson said on Friday. “China’s call for private individuals to report on alleged ‘persecution or suppression’ by supposed ‘Taiwan independence henchmen and accomplices’ is irresponsible and reprehensible,” an unnamed US Department of State spokesperson told the Central News Agency in an e-mail. The move is part of Beijing’s “intimidation campaign” against Taiwan and its supporters, and is “threatening free speech around the world, destabilizing the Indo-Pacific region, and deliberately eroding the cross-strait status quo,” the spokesperson said. The Chinese Communist Party’s “threats
RSS