Tibetans refute Chinese weapons seizure allegations

New Delhi, Apr 3 (UNI) The Tibetan Government-in-Exile has dared China to allow international monitoring groups and journalists visit Tibet to probe allegations that weapons were seized from monasteries in the Himalayan region following March 10 uprising.

In a statement here, it said the weapons were religious offerings made by the Tibetans to the monasteries as a symbol of rejecting violence.

''If the Chinese government has genuine belief and confidence in its claims then it should not hesitate to let international monitoring groups and journalists to visit Tibet so as to conduct free and fair investigations into the matter.'' The Chinese government earlier claimed to have seized some weapons from the monasteries in Tibet and described the demonstrations by the Tibetans inside the Himalayan region as ''terrorist activities''.

''If China's claim is true, then why did the Tibetans not use these weapons in their recent non-violent protests against the Chinese government,'' asked the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.

It also urged the UN and the international community to immediately rush independent fact finding delegations to Tibet.

The other demands included that free press be allowed to cover the whole Tibet, end to brutal killings in Tibet, release of all arrested and imprisoned Tibetans besides allowing free movement of people and access to daily needs.

UNI AG RL RAI1835