Exiles say Tibet 'prison camp' under China

DHARAMSHALA, INDIA: The Tibetans’ exiled political leadership said yesterday the region had been turned into a giant prison by China and that an imminent change at the top in Beijing was little cause for optimism.
About 400 Tibetans from around the world came together in the northern Indian hilltown of Dharamshala at the start of the biggest gathering of exiles in four years called to highlight the plight of Tibetans under Chinese rule.
The four-day general meeting is the first since the Dalai Lama, the revered spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, decided to retire from political duties, passing responsibilities to new Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay.
The speaker of Tibet’s Parliament-in-exile, which is based in Dharamshala, opened proceedings by denouncing Chinese repression, which he held as the cause of the deaths of 51 Tibetans in a recent spate of self-immolations.
“A state of undeclared martial law continues to remain in force in Tibet,” Penpa Tsering told the conclave.
“(China) has converted Tibet into a territory resembling a prison camp.”
He added: “The question (is) how and in what ways we, the Tibetan people living in exile, should respond to the tragic situation in Tibet today.”
The change of leadership in China later this year is one of the key issues for the delegates, with some observers suggesting president-in-waiting Xi Jinping may be more flexible on Tibet.
n FROM: Agence France Presse