Holding Olympics in China was not a good decision: Speaker of Italian provincial parliament

Dharamsala, May 11 : President of the regional parliament of south Tyrol in Italy Franz Pahl on Sunday met the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, and condemning Chinese repression in Tibet said that holding the Olympics in China was not a good decision.

Addressing a news conference in Dharamsala, Franz Pahl said that a resolution passed by the Regional Parliament of South Tyrol (Italy) in the session of April 16, 2008 unanimously condemned the repression inflicted on the Tibetan people by the Chinese government, and expressed solidarity with the Tibetan people, their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government-in-exile.

The visiting speaker of South Tyrol province, who met the Dalai Lama said that the Regional Parliament of South Tyrol (Italy) supports the values of democracy and non- violence also in a context of globalization and urged the Chinese government to release all political prisoners in China.

"It was not a good decision to concede the Olympic Games to China because China is a nation which does not respect minimally the human rights recognized officially by the United Nations. So in this session of April 16, we condemned unanimously by all 16 parties in the regional parliament. We condemn unanimously the repression inflicted on Tibetan, we express our solidarity to the Tibetan people and the Dalai Lama," said Franz Pahl.

He also urged the Chinese government to enforce right to freedom of expression and information in Tibet.

Pahl remarked that that the Olympic torch, the symbol of freedom and brotherhood should not be carried through Tibet and territories where repression and military occupation are still ongoing.

Dolma Garry, Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile graciously welcomed the support and solidarity expressed by the Regional Parliament of South Tyrol in Italy.

"We are also encouraged by the genuine effort of the regional parliament in raising the issues concerning Tibetans in general and the recent violence in particular. We hope that the Italian government and the European parliament will consider the important resolutions of the RPTSY and take immediate action there in," said Garry.

After a crackdown on protests against Chinese rule in Tibet, an international diplomatic chorus earlier this year urged a dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Beijing abruptly announced in late April that it intended to meet the Tibetan spiritual icon's aides.

Despite the offer of talks, China has accused Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, who fled Tibet after a failed 1959 uprising against Communist rule, of manipulating opinion and governments in the West.

There have been six rounds of dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama's envoys since 2002 with no breakthrough.

ANI