Read statements on the current situation in Tibet from:
The US Government
The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights
The Dalai Lama
The UK Government
The Italian Government
The German Government
The French Government
The Canadian Government
US Senator Barack Obama
US Speaker Nancy Pelosi
International Tibet Support Network

The US Government
White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Beijing needs to respect Tibetan culture and multi-ethnicity in its society. “We regret the tensions between the ethnic groups and Beijing,” he said, adding that President Bush has said consistently that Beijing needs to have a dialogue with the Dalai Lama. The U.S. ambassador to China has urged the government to “act with restraint” in dealing with the protesters, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, issued a statement calling on the Chinese authorities to allow demonstrators to exercise their right to freedom of expression and assembly.

Ms. Arbour also called on the Chinese Government to “refrain from any excessive use of force while maintaining order, and to ensure those arrested are not ill-treated and are accorded due process in line with international standards.”

The Dalai Lama
“I am deeply concerned over the situation that has been developing in Tibet following peaceful protests in many parts of Tibet, including Lhasa, in recent days. These protests are a manifestation of the deep-rooted resentment of the Tibetan people under the present governance.

As I have always said, unity and stability under brute force is at best a temporary solution. It is unrealistic to expect unity and stability under such a rule and would therefore not be conducive to finding a peaceful and lasting solution.

I therefore appeal to the Chinese leadership to stop using force and address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through dialogue with the Tibetan people. I also urge my fellow Tibetans not to resort to violence.”

UK Foreign Ministry
“We have registered our concern with the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs and the Chinese embassy in London and we are asking them for clarification,” a spokeswoman said.

“The human rights situation in Tibet is a matter of real concern to us. We raise it regularly with the Chinese authorities.”

“We want to see the Tibet issue dealt with peacefully between all concerned and are naturally alarmed when we hear of violence.”

Italian Foreign Minister, Massimo d’Alema
“The situation concerns us greatly,” and he demanded that “China bring an end to the repression.”

The German Government
“The [German] federal government is following developments in Lhasa with concern and calls on all sides to avoid violence at all costs,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.

“In the eyes of the federal government, peaceful demonstrations are a legitimate expression of the right of freedom of opinion.”

The French Foreign Minister
“We have called very clearly that human rights be assured … the condemnation is high,”

The Canadian Government, Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier
“We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Tibet,” Bernier told parliament. “We have consistently urged China to respect freedom or expression, freedom of association, freedom of religion for all Tibetans.”

“These latest developments in Tibet are very troubling for us and for Canadians. We urge China to respect the right of Tibetans to peaceful protests and to take steps to improve the human rights situation in Tibet.”

US Senator Barack Obama
“I am deeply disturbed by reports of a crackdown and arrests ordered by Chinese authorities in the wake of peaceful protests by Tibetan Buddhist monks. I condemn the use of violence to put down peaceful protests, and call on the Chinese government to respect the basic human rights of the people of Tibet, and to account for the whereabouts of detained Buddhist monks.

These events … demonstrate the continuing frustration of the Tibetan people at the way in which Beijing has ruled Tibet. There has been an informal dialogue between Chinese leaders and the Dalai Lama’s representatives over the past six years. It is good that they have been talking, but China has thus far shown no flexibility on the substance of those discussions. Indeed, it has delayed in scheduling the latest round, despite the willingness of the Tibetans to continue dialogue.

If Tibetans are to live in harmony with the rest of China’s people, their religion and culture must be respected and protected. Tibet should enjoy genuine and meaningful autonomy. The Dalai Lama should be invited to visit China, as part of a process leading to his return.

This is the year of the Beijing Olympics. It represents an opportunity for China to show the world what it has accomplished in the last several decades. Those accomplishments have been extraordinary and China’s people have a right to be proud of them, but the events in Tibet these last few days unfortunately show a different face of China. Now is the time for Beijing to take steps that would change the image people have of China later this year by changing the reality of how they treat Tibet and Tibetans. Now is the time to respect the human rights and religious freedom of the people of Tibet.”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (US House of Representatives)
“The violent response by Chinese police forces to peaceful protesters in Tibet is disgraceful. It must be met with strong condemnation by the United States government and the international community. The Chinese government should immediately provide information on the welfare and whereabouts of the detained Buddhist monks and facilitate access by international human rights monitors and journalists to Tibetan areas.”

International Tibet Support Network (on behalf of 153 Tibet support groups, including ATC)
“China’s policies in Tibet are largely responsible for this situation; its renewal of a patriotic re-education campaign and its stepping up of anti-Dalai Lama rhetoric, and its economic policies that have led to the increasing marginalisation of Tibetans. Furthermore, there is widespread understanding that China has engaged in further suppression of rights prior to the 2008 Olympic Games. Tibetans are also aware that the Dalai Lama’s attempts at dialogue to reach a peaceful solution for Tibet are not being responded to in good faith by China.”

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