Kalon Tripa visits Japan, Seeks help to end Tibet tragedy/ENG

2012. április 4./Phayul.com/TibetPress

By Tendar Tsering

DHARAMSHALA, April 4: Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay, who is currently on a five-day visit to Japan, has met with several senior leaders, including two former prime ministers and sought help from the island nation to ease the ongoing critical situation in Tibet.

Arriving in Tokyo on April 1, Dr Sangay had separate meetings with former Japanese PMs Shinzo Abe and Taro Aso on Monday.

The 43-year old Harvard law graduate apprised the two leaders on the ongoing wave of self-immolations in Tibet, urging them to help end the prevailing critical situation inside Tibet.

The Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration said on its official website that the two former PMs expressed their deep concern over the tense situation in Tibet and assured that “they stand by the Tibetan people.”

Besides addressing the Tibetan community and Tibetan supporters in Tokyo, the Tibetan political head also spoke to the media at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan.

“The responsibility for the tragic self-immolations of Tibetans lies solely with the Chinese government and so does the solution,” Dr Sangay was quoted as saying.

“Even if the Tibetans held peaceful protests they are bound to suffer harsh consequences at the Chinese authorities’ hands. Eight Tibetans were shot dead by security forces for taking part in a peaceful protest earlier this year. Under such desperate circumstances, Tibetans are forced to take drastic actions like setting themselves on fire,” Dr Sangay said.

The exiled Tibetan leader noted that Burmese Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s by-election victory in weekend polls gave him hope that Tibet too would see an end to Chinese repression.

“No one thought Aung San Suu Kyi will be released (from house arrest). Things happen. So we are absolutely certain our day will come,” Dr Sangay was quoted by AFP as saying.

“It might look, some say, impossible and unrealistic... The success of every struggle is believing in oneself and believing in your movement,” he added.

This is Dr Sangay’s first trip to an Asian country outside India after assuming political office last year. He was on a whirlwind tour of North America and Europe in recent months.