Tibet's government-in-exile has demanded the United Nations intervene to end what it called ‘urgent human rights violations’ by China following deadly protests in Tibet.
The exiled government in Dharamshala in northern India, home to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, said it had received confirmation that about 30 people had been killed, and was hearing unconfirmed ‘numbers of over 100 dead’.
Tanks and armoured vehicles were out in force in the Tibetan capital Lhasa today, a day after the worst protests against China's rule in the Himalayan region in nearly 20 years.
China has said only 10 people died in the protests.
The government-in-exile said it was deeply concerned by reports ‘emanating from all three regions of Tibet of random killings, injuries and arrest of thousands of Tibetans peacefully protesting against Chinese policy’.
The protests reflect ‘the true sentiments of Tibetans inside Tibet and the yearning to be free from the repressive Chinese regime,’ it said.
The Dalai Lama yesterday expressed ‘deep concern’ over China's crackdown and urged Beijing to stop using force there and address the ‘resentment of the Tibetan people through dialogue’.
‘I also urge my fellow Tibetans not to resort to violence,’ said the Dalai Lama, who has stuck by his call for ‘cultural autonomy’ rather than independence for Tibet despite ramping up his criticism of China in recent days.
A spokesman for the 72-year-old also denied Chinese charges that groups allied to the spiritual leader had ‘organised, premeditated and masterminded’ the unrest.
‘As far as we can see, these protests are spontaneous,’ he said.
