Candlelight procession in support of China-Tibet talks in Shimla

Shimla, July 3 : Hundreds of Tibetan exiles took part in a candlelight procession here last night in support of the talks that are being held between the Chinese Government and the envoys of Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama in Beijing.

Tibetans under the banner of 'Tibetan Solidarity committee' along with residents marched on the roads. "The international pressure is actually working. It is a pressure for whole world. We are not putting pressure for nothing. It's something, which everybody is concerned. The Chinese Government has started opening their doors. Now, they have invited the representative of the Tibetan Government and we are very happy for that," said Kiren Rijiju, President Himalayan Parliamentary Forum for Tibet and a parliamentarian.

"But at the same time we want to stress that there should be some result. The talk must be positive. The talk should be held in a very-very cordial atmosphere," Rijiju added.

Dolma Gyari, Deputy Speaker of Tibetan Government-in-exile, demanded release of political prisoners from Tibet.

"With immediate effect, release all the political prisoners including the Panchem Lama. We are also very concerned about the reports of arbitrary arrests and unfair trial that is being carried on inside the Tibet," Gyari said.

China resumed fence-mending talks with envoys of Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama on Tuesday in a move that could burnish its international image weeks before the Chinese capital hosts the Olympics.

It is their second closed-door meeting since rioting erupted in Tibet in March and heaped international pressure on China to deal with the Nobel laureate, who fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule.

ANI