It is just another long day of anguish for Buddhists who are living in horror over news of recent shootings of protesting Tibetans by the Chinese police. And so Buddhists in Syracuse have joined in prayers of solidarity for the Tibetans who have died due to police shootings in Tibet over the past two days. Phayul.com has reported "CTA holds prayer session as Amnesty expresses fear over further bloodshed in Tibet." Prime Minister of the Tibet government in exile Dr Lobsang Sangay led such a pray service from his exiled office in India today as he encouraged the international community to join in prayers and to intervene to prevent further bloodshed in Tibet.
Dr Sangay has said “Silence from the world community sends a clear message to China that its repressive and violent measures to handle tensions in Tibetan areas are acceptable. As a nation aspiring to become a world economic and political power, the People’s Republic of China cannot be permitted to behave in such immoral and violent manner." Reports from Tibet say at least a dozen Tibetans have died after Chinese security personnel fired indiscriminately at unarmed Tibetan demonstrators in two separate incidents in Drango and Serthar in eastern Tibet.
Amnesty International has responded in a news release yesterday “China must avoid using excessive force in response to protests and allow independent monitors into areas of protest. The Chinese authorities are responding only with repression and a security crackdown to an already volatile situation, instead of addressing long-standing human rights grievances on the part of Tibetans.” Amnesty International has now renewed its call for independent monitors, for instance the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, to be allowed into the country. This is a time of unusual tragedy for Tibet which needs support from the international community desperately.
