Tibetan parliament writes open letter to Chinese president seeking end to oppression

DHARAMSHALA: Anguished over the recent incident of firing by Chinese police on Tibetans on January 23, reportedly killing one Tibetan and injuring about 30 persons, the Tibetan parliament-in-exile on Friday sent an open letter to Chinese president Hu Jintao, regretting that his government has no regard for human rights.
In a press conference called by the speaker of Tibetan parliament, Pempa Tsering, at a short notice, he said that increasing cases of brutality inside Tibet has forced them to write openly to the Chinese president.
"The incident of open firing that killed innocent Tibetans and injured many, who were protesting peacefully, took place when the whole China was celebrating the Dragon's New Year," he said.
The letter also cited seven points suggested by the Tibetan parliament-in-exile to restore peace and harmony inside Tibet.
"As human beings, we are sure you will understand why people resort to extreme measures like self-immolations. The brutal repressive measures adopted by your government on peaceful protestors leave us in no doubt that your government has no value for human rights, dignity or lives," the letter mentioned.
The Tibetan parliament also said that Chinese leadership always turned a blind eye towards peaceful solution of the Tibet issue by stalling dialogues on flimsy grounds.
"Your leadership has always turned a blind eye, stalled dialogue on flimsy grounds and expected the Tibetan issue to die a natural death. But by now, you must have realized that Tibetan spirit remains indomitable and it shall remain so till a mutually agreeable solution is found," the letter noted further.
A delegation of the Tibetan parliament will also leave for Delhi on Saturday to meet representatives of different embassies located there. "We have prepared a memorandum clarifying the situation inside Tibet and use of extreme force by Chinese authorities. This will be submitted to the embassies, so as to seek international support for our cause," said Tsering.