by Tenam
Paris 24 March: As the French President called on the Chinese government to show restraint and to resume the dialogue process with the representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetans and French supporters kick started a week long rally in front of the French Foreign Ministry.
In a press release issued today, the President of the French Republic, expressing sadness over recent “tragic events” in Tibet, called on the
Chinese government to respect “the cultural and spiritual identity” of Tibetans. He also offered France as a go-between to facilitate talks
between the parties.
Speaking at the rally, Mr. Thupten Gyatso, President of the Tibetan Community called on the French government to use her influence to stop
the brutal repression in Tibet and to stop the political and ethnic persecution of Tibetans in Tibet.
“France can propose two concrete proposals of sending medical team to help with the injured in Tibet and press the Chinese government to allow
free access of media in Tibet,” added Mr Thupten Gyatso.
In a poll by leading French daily Liberation today, about how to protest China’s “human rights situation,” 53% of respondents said they were “rather favourable” to the idea of Mr Sarkozy staying away from the Olympic opening ceremonies. 42% were “rather unfavourable.” The remaining 5% were not accounted for.
“France can play a major role within the UN and the European Union to advance the right of the Tibetan people to self-determination on their
political future,” Mr Gyatso said.
Sarkozy has been under lot of pressure from the opposition parties for not speaking out on the situation in Tibet.
