Resume talks, Tibetan exiles urge China

Dharamsala, April 30 (IANS) Expressing concern over violations of human rights in Tibet, the Central Tibetan Administration, the democratically elected body of the Tibetan exiles, has called upon Beijing to restart dialogue to end the 'conflict', an official statement said here Monday.

'The conflict can be resolved through sincere and constructive dialogue and negotiations at the highest level between the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and His Holiness the Dalai Lama or his representatives,' said the statement quoting a declaration of the Sixth World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet that concluded in Ottawa Sunday.

It said 'unilateral action in Tibet by China, such as the imposition of new policies that do not reflect the aspirations of the Tibetan people, cannot lead to a solution'.

Clarifying its stand on the issue of Tibet, the convention said 'a sustainable solution can be achieved through genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people within the PRC'.

Calling upon the Chinese to end accusations against the Dalai Lama and the CTA, it said 'the Tibetan proposals expressly formulate a solution within the constitutional framework of the PRC'.

But the declaration said the CTA was alarmed at continuing grave violations of human rights in Tibet by the PRC authorities in reaction to peaceful protests by Tibetans.

'We call upon the PRC to end the repression in Tibet, provide access to all Tibetan areas in the PRC, schedule the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' mission to China, especially to Tibet, and to resume the dialogue with the envoys of the Dalai Lama,' it said.

The last round of talks - the ninth - between the Chinese and the Dalai Lam's envoys was held in Beijing in January 2010.

The CTA submitted an 'explanatory' note to the Chinese leadership in 2010 to clarify its stand on genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people.

China, however, said after the talks that the two sides had 'sharply divided views as usual'.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet along with many of his supporters and took refuge in India when Chinese troops moved in and took control of Lhasa in 1959.

India is home to around 100,000 Tibetans. The Tibetan government-in-exile, based here, is not recognised by any country.