CHINA'S ATTACKS ON DALAI LAMA ALARM TIBETAN MPS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 001375

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR TIBETAN ISSUES U/S
DOBRIANSKY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2028
TAGS: CH IN KIRF PGOV PHUM PREF PREL
SUBJECT: CHINA'S ATTACKS ON DALAI LAMA ALARM TIBETAN MPS

REF: REFTEL NEW DELHI 01333

Classified By: Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Osius for
reasons 1.4 (b and d)

1.(C//REL TO ACG) Summary. During a May 15 meeting, Deputy
Speaker of the Tibetan "parliament in exile" Dolma Gyari and
three fellow "members of parliament" (MPs) expressed
gratitude for continued US support and urged increased
pressure on Beijing. In contrast to the Dalai Lama's
characterization of the Shenzhen talks as "positive," the
"MPs" alleged a lack of good faith on the part of the Chinese
negotiators and warned that China's personal attacks on the
Dalai Lama anger the Tibetan community. They claimed that
the number of jailed Tibetans is almost 20 times that
reported by the Chinese government. Gyari proposed several
opportunities for US-India cooperation on Tibetan aid
projects. The "parliamentarians" conveyed a letter to
President Bush requesting the USG to consider working with
the UN to send a fact-finding mission to Tibet, release the
Panchen Lama and other political prisoners, and allow media
access and freedom of movement in Tibet (see para 7). End
Summary.

2.(C//REL TO ACG) During a May 15 meeting with PolCouns, the
Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan "parliament in exile" Dolma
Gyari and three fellow "parliamentarians" reiterated their
appreciation for the continued support of the USG and the
American people and advocated for increased pressure on
Beijing. Gyari highlighted the Congressional Medal of Honor
given to the Dalai Lama as a significant signal to both the
Chinese government and "middle path" Tibetans -- those
advocating an approach to achieve the goals of Tibetan
autonomy and preserving Tibet's unique culture. Despite the
Dalai Lama's assessment that the Shenzen talks were
"productive," Gyari alleged a lack of good faith on the part
of the Chinese negotiators. However, the "MPs" support
continued negotiations if the Chinese engage in a substantive
dialogue. Gyari predicted that the next round of talks would
be held in late May or early June, adding that they pushed
for the date to be moved up from the Dalai Lama's mid-June
forecast. She indicated that the Dalai Lama's Special Envoy
Lodi Gyari will brief Washington next week.

3.(C//REL TO ACG) The "MPs" voiced concern about the discrepancy
between the Chinese government's and the Tibetan government's
reported number of Tibetans arrested. Gyari reported that
5,714 Tibetans had been arrested, contrasting sharply with
the Chinese government's assertion that only 300 Tibetans
have been detained. The "MPs" fear for the whereabouts of
the almost 5,000 unaccounted Tibetans. They also objected to
China's recent media tactics which negatively affect both
Tibetans and Chinese citizens. While the Dalai Lama remains
sanguine about the personal attacks of the Chinese
government, the "parliamentarians" argued that the repeated
affronts could have the intended effect of incensing the
Tibetan community. They vowed not to take the bait and
abandon negotiations. Gyari noted that, due to state
censorship, the Chinese people had not been exposed to the
scale of the Tibetans' suffering or the widespread global
support for the people of Tibet. She argued that the Chinese
Communist Party and Politburo exploit this ignorance by
linking the issue of Tibetan autonomy with Chinese
nationalism. The PRC's personal attacks are designed to
narrow the issue to the Dalai Lama and a few extreme
followers instead of the entire Tibetan population, the
"parliamentarians" claimed.

4.(C//REL TO ACG) The "MPs" emphasized the importance of India
as the "second line of defense," with widespread support for
Tibet and the preservation of Tibetan culture in the
Himalayan Belt states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal
Pradesh, and Jammmu and Kashmir. Gyari said that, while most
Tibetan refugees living in exile consider India their most
important ally, those remaining in Tibet look to the US for
support and eventual liberation. Consequently, she opined,
the USG and GOI are natural partners in offering assistance
to Tibet. The "MPs" proposed several possible
collaborations, including coordinating on monastic institute
preservation in Himachal Pradesh. They said they had
discussed their plans with BJP opposition leader L.K. Advani.

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Gyari invited PolOffs to attend a conference in Shimla to
honor the Anniversary of the Shimla Treaty on July 3 and
offered to coordinate meetings between Himachal Pradesh
parliamentarians and the USG.


5. (U) Gyari left PolOffs with a personal letter to
President Bush urging the administration to consider seven
steps to support the Tibetan cause. The letter proposes that
the US and UN send a fact-finding mission to Tibet and
facilitate international medical associations to work within
Tibet. Gyari appeals to the President to pressure China to
uphold fundamental human rights, to release the Dalai Lama
and other political prisoners, to allow free movement of
people, and to allow media access in Tibet. (See para 7 for
full text.)

6.(C) Comment. The "parliamentarians'" message, while
sincere, is not new. Their tone continues to be more
strident than that of Dalai Lama's office, but their
eagerness to move up the next round of talks with China is a
positive sign. End Comment.


7. (C//REL TO ACG) Begin text:

To,
His Excellency
Mr. George W. Bush
President of the United States of America White House
Washington DC

Respected Mr. President,

The standing committee of the democratically elected Tibetan
Parliament in exile would like to express our sincere
gratitude to you, your administration and the people of
United States of America for your sincere concerns and timely
actions for the protection of the fundamental human Rights of
the people inside Tibet.

Due to growing international support for Tibet and China's
need to proudly host the 2008 Beijing Olympic, the
representatives of the PRC met with the envoys of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama on the 4th of May at ShenZhen, China.
However, the PRC continue implementing their repressive
policy towards the unarmed Tibetans, makes false allegations
and criticisms against His Holiness the Dalai Lama which has
led many Tibetans and others to doubt the sincerity of the
Chinese Government.

According to the reports received by the Tibetan solidarity
committee (constituted by the Cabinet and the Tibetan
Parliament in exile),beginning from the 10th March till
date, 203 Tibetans has been confirmed killed, over one
thousand injured and 5,714 arrested. So far, the Chinese
authorities have announced conviction of thirty people. One
monk was awarded life imprisonment, two got 20 years, three
got 15 years and the minimum sentence announced is three
years rigorous imprisonment. We cannot accept these
unjustified convictions because these trails were not
conducted in accordance with due process of law and none of
the sentences involved proceeding under manslaughter. It is
unfortunate that the only principle followed here, was the
repeatedly announced 'strike hard' policy of the communist
regime.

Tibet continues to remain in tense under undeclared martial
law, inaccessible to independent media. Hence, we are deeply
concerned about the safety of our people. We, therefore,
appeal to you and your administration to urgently consider
the following:


1. Send a fact-finding delegation to access the real
situation inside Tibet. Urge upon the UN to do the same.

2. Impress upon China to stop killings & uphold the
Fundamental Human Rights inside Tibet.

3. Facilitate International medical communities /
organizations to render medical assistance to the injured
Tibetans inside Tibet.

4. Impress upon China to immediately release His Holiness,
the Panchen Lama and all other Tibetans political prisoners
including Tulku Tenzing Deleck, Rongay Adrak.

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5. Impress upon China to allow free movement of people and
provide access to daily needs and services.

6. Impress upon China to open the entire region of Tibet to
free & independent media.

7. Impress upon China to respect and follow the principle of
Rule of Law & Natural Justice.

With our deep appreciation & high regards,
Yours sincerely,

(signature)

Dolma Gyari (Mrs.)
Deputy Speaker

End text.
MULFORD