Dharamshala: Around 150 Japanese parliamentarians have issued a strong statement urging the Chinese government to “immediately stop the unlawful suppression of the Tibetan people’s human rights.”
The statement, issued by members of all Japan’s major political parties, which was read out in front of the Dalai Lama, on Tuesday, November 13, also called on the international community at large to help put an end to human rights violations in Tibet.
“The Chinese government is violating the human rights of the Tibetan people in a ruthless manner,” the statement read.
“It is imposing strict limitations on the Tibetans for their freedom of political, religious, cultural and economic activities, and punishing those who protest with physical torture and other atrocious means.
“A number of Tibetans have self-immolated in order to protest against such oppression. However, the Chinese government does not address the grievances of the Tibetan people and also does not respond to the Central Tibetan Administration’s repeated requests for the resumption of dialogue in seeking a peaceful solution of the Tibetan issue.
‘We strongly urge the Chinese government to immediately stop the unlawful suppression of the Tibetan people’s human rights and improve the situation. We are also ready to send such a message to the international community without any hesitation.”
Tensions between China and Japan have been building over some East China Sea islands, known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese, which the Japanese government nationalized in September in a bid to prevent Tokyo's right-wing governor from buying them. The move sparked anti-Japanese protests in cities across China, during which Japanese businesses and cars were attacked.
On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, rebuked Japan for hosting and providing a platform for the Dalai Lama, who he accused of glorifying self-immolations and allying with Japanese right-wingers over the recent island dispute.
The Tibetan spiritual leader was visiting Japan’s parliamentary building in Tokyo, to speak on Human Values and Universal Responsibility, as part of a 10 day tour of the East Asian nation.
