Tibetans Call International Community’s Message of Hope and Solidarity for Tibet at the UN

-Filed by Office of Tibet, Geneva-

Geneva: More than a hundred Tibetans from Switzerland and Liechtenstein gathered outside the United Nations in Geneva today in protest against the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet. They are calling for international community’s message of hope and solidarity for Tibet.

Switzerland and Liechtenstein Tibetan community organized the peaceful protest paralleling the ongoing 39th UN Human Rights Council regular session convened earlier this week.

Underling the human right violations in Tibet by the Chinese authorities, a four-page appeal letter addressed to Ms. Michelle Bachelet, the newly elected UN High Commissioner, was also submitted to the UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The appeal letter urged international community including the UN to push China to:

1.  Release all political prisoners, including the missing Panchen Lama;

2.  Immediately repeal all repressive policies and discriminatory practices in Tibet;

3. Resume dialogue with the representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama;

4. Facilitate the visits of the UN High Commissioner and Special Rapporteurs to Tibet.

5.  Allow international media to have unhindered access to Tibet.

Reiterating the pivotal role of international community’s support in advancing Tibetans’ unwavering commitment in finding a peaceful resolution with the Chinese government, “message of hope and standing in solidarity with Tibet” from international community is “critical more than ever”, said the president of the Tibetan community.