Tibetans halt China protest

By AMIT AGNIHOTRI

New Delhi, May 21: Opposed to the policies of the Chinese government on Tibet tooth and nail, the Central Tibetan Administration has asked community members all over the world to donate generously for the Chinese quake victims as a mark of solidarity.

"This is a moment of crisis for the Chinese people. We are opposed to the Chinese government not to its people. We are paying homage to the dead and will try to help the quake victims in whatever way we can," Choekyang Wangchuk, member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile told this newspaper.

For the Tibetan leaders, the appeal gels well with already stated position of their spiritual leader Dalai Lama that "he would love to be a Chinese".

Earlier, while the recent Tibetan upsurge was at its peak, he had made appeals to the Chinese people to end the prevailing confusion and help resolve the Tibetan issue. "It is in our long-term interest to remain with China. Tibet has to develop economically for the betterment of its people," the Dalai Lama had said.

The comments, aiming to involve the Chinese people into their struggle, had come at a time when the Chinese leaders were levelling allegations of instigating the Tibetans against the Dalai Lama.

Denying that there were any political overtones in the appeal, another member of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile Youdon Aukatsang said, "This is a humane gesture. We are also praying for the souls of the quake victims."