Tibetan PM refutes Chinese denial of cultural genocide

Dharamshala, Mar 18 (UNI) Tibetan Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche today refuted Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's claim that no ''cultural genocide'' is taking place in Tibet and said an international team must verify his (Jiabao's) claim.

''The cultural genocide is a fact. They should ask independent international observers whether there was a cultural genocide or not,'' he told reporters here.

Mr Rinpoche said if no cultural genocide were taking place in Tibet, the Chinese should allow an international team to verify its claim on the issue.

He also accused the Chinese Government of arresting a large number of people even before the deadline for surrender had come to an end.

''Stability under guns remains, and before the deadline is over, the arrests and disappearances have begun,'' he added.

Anti-China protests in Tibet began on March 10 to mark the 49th anniversary of the uprising against Chinese rule following which the security forces suppressed it violently after protesters, including monks, attacked government property in Lhasa.

UNI XC AS JN VN1834