Pelosi backs Tibet against China, demands independent probe

Dharamsala, Mar 21 (UNI) Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi today called for an independent probe to clear Tibet's spiritual leader Dalai Lama's name in the violent protests in Tibet.

''An independent, outside investigation is necessary to clear the Dalai Lama's name, besides speaking out against the Chinese oppression,'' she told reporters in this hill town, the headquarters of Tibetan Government-in-exile after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule in 1959.

''If freedom-loving people throughout the world do not speak out against Chinese oppression, we have lost all moral authority to speak on behalf of human rights anywhere in the world,'' she said.

Launching a scathing attack against the Chinese, she said China must allow journalists and other monitors to enter Tibet and see for themselves what the situation was inside Tibet.

She said she was not surprised about the use of violence on the part of the Chinese government in Tibet following protests by Tibetan monks in Lhasa.

Describing the Dalai Lama as ''the embodiment of non-violence'', she said it was necessary to clear his name in the violent protests in Tibet once and for all.

The US is for encouraging a dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Beijing and China should engage in high-level dialogues, Speaker of the US House of Representatives said.

''I am here to support the Dalai Lama on behalf of the people of the United States,'' she said.

''It is in our fate to help the people of Tibet and so we all must talk for Tibet. Thank you (the Tibetans) for the courage you give us,'' she said adding that the US shared a great relationship with Tibet.

Earlier, Ms Pelosi, accompanied by nine other U.S. lawmakers, traveled to Dharamshala, where she was given a rousing welcome at the main temple complex, opposite the Dalai Lama's residence.

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