Dalai Lama: Don't Protest Torch Relay
Elisabeth Rosenthal writes in today's New York Times that the recent Sichuan earthquake has pushed Tibetan activism out of the limelight and left activists in a quandary.
The ongoing Olympic torch relay has been a magnet for protests by Tibetan exiles and their supporters. In particular, they had looked to arrival of the Olympic torch in Tibet as a rallying point. The torch is scheduled to be carried into Tibet on June 19. As China mourns and the world sympathizes, however, some advise restraint.
Yesterday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama advised Tibetans not to protest or interfere with the relay.
Some Tibetan activist groups such as Students for a Free Tibet are calling on corporate sponsors of the Olympic Games to pressure the International Olympic Committee to withdraw Tibet from the relay route.
Photo Caption: Chemi Dolkar waits for the start of a demonstration calling for an independent Tibet March 18, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois.
Photo Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Comments
The Dalai Lama’s admonition for the people of Tibet not to protest when the Olympic torch passes through Lhasa makes sense. What scares me, however, is his willingness to go to Beijing if talks with China go well. It would be a disaster if they put him in prison or he was killed.
Lise
Current China government is good one and will welcome him to Beijing under international limelights. This is laudable progress if it happens.