Tibetans seek talks between Hu and Dalai Lama

Dehra Dun, Nov 20: Hours ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's arrival in India on an official three-day visit, the Tibetan community in Uttaranchal held a rally here today demanding direct talks between him and Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama to resolve the long-standing Tibet issue.

'' We are not opposing Hu's visit to India, however, we want dialogue between the two,'' said Uttaranchal Tibetan women's Association President Tsering Yangzom.

The Tibetan Community also wanted the government to include the Tibet issue in its bilateral talks, she added.

She said that in the past, to solve the issue, five meetings were held between the representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese Government. But the results were not positive.

'' It is highly important for Tibet, China, East Asian Countries and India that the existing Tibetan issues are resolved through peaceful dialogue during the lifetime of his Holiness as it is almost 47 years that we have been living in exile in India,'' she said.

Scores of Tibetans, including students and monks, participated in the peaceful rally that began from the Parade Ground and went round the state capital voicing their demands and holding placards that read ''We demand, Human Rights in China'', ''Wake up UNO'', ''Hu Jintao dialogue with Dalai Lama'' and ''Hu Jintao respect Human Rights''.

UNI