Kalon Tripa Writes to UN Chief on Tense Situation in Tibet/ENG

2012. március 16./CTA/TibetPress

DHARAMSHALA, 16 March: Kalon Tripa of the Central Tibetan Administration today appealed to the United Nations Secretary-General to send a Special Envoy to investigate the on-the-ground reality in Tibet, particularly in areas where series of tragic self-immolations took place.

 In his letter to UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon dated 16 March, Kalon Tripa Dr. Lobsang Sangay apprised him that “a tragic and explosive situation continues to prevail in Tibet. Since 2009, 28 incidents of self-immolation have occurred with 15 in 2012 alone. These individuals chose to self-immolate to emphatically protest the Chinese government’s repressive policies in Tibet and demand the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his homeland. In response to these incidents, the Chinese government recently issued a statement declaring ‘war against secessionist sabotage’ in Tibet.”

“We, Tibetans inside and outside Tibet, appeal to the United Nations to send a Special Envoy to Tibet, particularly areas where these self-immolations took place, to investigate the on-the-ground reality. The Kashag joins its voice to that of the Tibetan people, parliament, international NGOs, and the three Tibetan hunger strikers before the UN headquarters in New York to reiterate this request,” he said.

Kalon Tripa said the Central Tibetan Administration is not seeking separation from China or independence for Tibet. “We will continue to strive for genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people within the framework of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) through dialogue and negotiations. Thus, the Tibetan freedom struggle is not only an exemplary non-violent movement but is also a model for political moderation, democracy and the spirit of dialogue and reconciliation,” he said.

 “We hope that the United Nations in keeping with its mandate in relation to human rights and freedom will respond positively to the appeal of the Tibetan people in this difficult moment,” Kalon Tripa wrote to Mr Ban Ki-Moon.