Dalai Lama envoys ‘on way to China’
Representatives of spiritual leader aim to “bring peace” and end crisis in Tibet.
Published On 2 May 2008
“They will convey His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s deep concerns about the Chinese authorities handling of the situation and also provide suggestions to bring peace to the region,” the statement said.
A Dalai Lama spokesman told AFP news agency that the envoys – Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen – had arrived in Hong Kong en route to mainland China for the talks.
“The envoys will raise the issue of moving forward on the process for a mutually satisfactory solution to the Tibetan issue,” he said.
Olympic embarrassment
The Tibetan government-in-exile says 203 people were killed and some 1,000 hurt in the unrest and crackdown in and around Lhasa, Tibet’s capital.
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At least 5,715 people have been arrested since the protests began, Chinese officials said.
The unrest has both angered and embarrassed China ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August as pro-Tibet demonstrators have dogged each leg of the Olympic torch relay’s world tour.
Tibetan leaders say the unrest is a result of the anger and frustration experienced by the people of Tibet after nearly six decades of repressive Chinese rule.
Chinese troops invaded Tibet in 1950 and officially annexed the region a year later.
The Dalai Lama, who fled his homeland following an uprising in the province in 1959, has repeatedly accused China of widespread human rights violations.
Source: News Agencies