'India should mediate b/w China and Dalai Lama'

{image-India+China+Tibet+map.gif_20032008.jpg news.oneindia.in}New Delhi, Mar 20: The India-Tibet Friendship Society (ITFS) today urged India to mediate between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama to resolve the complicated Tibet problem.

Addressing a news conference here, ITFS general secretary Prof Anand Kumar said the Government of India should not be content with just expressing concern about the Chinese repression in Tibet. ''India should come forward and invite the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama for unconditional dialogue to resolve the problem,'' he added. Prof Kumar said India has no policy on Tibet. ''They (India) want to keep both the Chinese and the Tibetans happy by observing caution and restraint. There is a dispute within. This is an historic opportunity for India to assert its stand on Tibet.'' Prof Kumar said India should interfere on humanitarian and not on political or religious grounds.

He also urged UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to rush an inquiry commission to bring out the truth about the Red Army's repression of Tibetans.
The UN Secretary General should also take an initiative for unconditional dialogue between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government, Prof Kumar added. He called upon the people to express their solidarity with the Tibetans by organising 'Save Tibet Day' on March 31. The people should observe day-long fasting at all district headquarters across India.

Prof Kumar alleged that Chinese Ambassador to India Zhang Yan was repeatedly over-stepping his brief by speaking ''blatant lies'' against the Dalai Lama. ''He (the Chinese envoy) is misusing the freedom of expression and speech in India to the maximum and our Foreign Ministry is turning a blind eye towards this open violation. Is this our Foreign Ministry or that of the Chinese?'' he asked.

UNI