US congresswoman expresses solidarity with Tibetan leader
Friday, 21 Mar 2008 11:13
The speaker of the US' lower house has called for China to respect human rights
US congresswoman Nancy Pelosi has called on China to respect human rights during a meeting with the Dalai Lama.
The speaker of the US House of Representatives was on a visit to Tibet after Beijing cracked down on Tibetan protesters commemorating a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
Ms Pelosi termed the situation in the Chinese territory a "challenge to the conscience of the world" and called for greater information about events in the area.
"If freedom loving people throughout the world do not speak out against China's oppression in China and Tibet, we have lost all moral authority to speak on behalf of human rights anywhere in the world," she added.
The spiritual head of the Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama has accused China of being behind a "cultural genocide" in Tibet and has previously demanded an international inquiry into the incident.
Meanwhile, China's premier has accused the exiled Buddhist leader of orchestrating the violent protests which come as the country prepares to host the Olympic Games.
China recently admitted that it had fired at protestors, injuring four. It has previously arrested 24 people and has announced the deaths of 13 people in the rioting in Tibet's capital Lhasa. Human rights groups claim the real death toll from the protests is over 90 people.