Tibetan-in-exile Prime Minister appeals for peace during Olympic torch relay

Dharamsala, Apr 17 : The Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamshala, Samdhong Rinpoche, has urged his exiled countrymen not to disturb the Olympic torch relay in New Delhi.

"I have already appealed to the Tibetan community not to disturb the Olympic torch, do not do anything, which is not in accordance with the law of the land. I hope the Tibetan people will abide by the law," said Sandhong. Rinpoche's message came amid fears that the day might witness violence, which is against the very essence of the Buddhist teachings and Tibetan ethos.

Monks in the hilly town have organised a mass peace prayer session which began hours before the Olympic torch relay is set to take place in New Delhi.

The monks said that their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has always advocated non-violent means and has condemned the recent spurt of violence.

But they appeared to differ with their spiritual leader who has upheld Beijing's right to host the Olympic Games.

"They don't deserve to host the Olympic games as they don't have basic human rights for all the Tibetans and also other nationalities inside China. I don't think this time, I want to support Beijing Olympic," said Tenzing, a monk.

The monks and nuns have also been staging demonstrations and hunger strikes over the past two months in a peaceful manner.

Tibetans plan to hold a parallel torch relay to protest Chinese action and demand Tibet's independence.

ANI