Tibetan Govt: Halt anti-China protests

The Tibetan government-in-exile on Wednesday called for a temporary halt to the anti-China protests to express solidarity with the victims of the recent earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan province.

'In order to express our solidarity with the great natural disaster that befell China, Tibetans across the world should shun staging demonstrations in front of Chinese embassies in the respective host countries they live in at least till about the end of May,' said a statement issued by the Tibetan government-in-exile.

According to the statement, exiled Tibetans have offered prayers for the victims of the earthquake that struck southwest China on May 12.

Quoting the Dalai Lama, who is on a five-day visit to Germany, the statement said: 'Let us pray and express our condolences to the Chinese people. Let us share this sadness of thousands and thousands of Chinese who suffered due to the earthquake.'

The Tibetan government-in-exile had organised a special prayer session for the earthquake victims at the main Buddhist temple in Dharamshala on Tuesday.

The Tibetan government-in-exile issued guidelines asking for a temporary halt to the protests and the Tibetans to organise prayer meetings and raise donations for the quake victims.

'Write a letter, or send a message, to the concerned that they are doing so in solidarity with the quake victims,' the guidelines added.

Karma Chophel, Speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in- exile, in his address at a prayer session in Dharamshala on May 19 had asked the Tibetans to put off protests in front of Chinese embassies until the end of May.