Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NEWDELHI824
2008-03-19 12:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

TIBETAN REFUGEES: INDIA RELEASING DETAINEES,

Tags:  PREF PREL CH NP IN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9118
OO RUEHCN
DE RUEHNE #0824 0791241
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 191241Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0952
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6831
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 1517
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0293
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7609
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 000824 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2028
TAGS: PREF PREL CH NP IN
SUBJECT: TIBETAN REFUGEES: INDIA RELEASING DETAINEES,
ALLOWING LAWFUL PROTESTS

REF: STATE 27872

Classified By: Ambassador David C. Mulford for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 000824

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2028
TAGS: PREF PREL CH NP IN
SUBJECT: TIBETAN REFUGEES: INDIA RELEASING DETAINEES,
ALLOWING LAWFUL PROTESTS

REF: STATE 27872

Classified By: Ambassador David C. Mulford for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Foreign
Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon on March 19. Responding to

SIPDIS
reftel points, Menon stated that the Indian government has
spoken with both the Dalai Lama's representatives and four
Tibetan non-governmental organizations and assured them that
peaceful, legal demonstrations would be allowed. However,
the GOI had made it clear to the Tibetans that it cannot
allow demonstrations to bring Indian law into disrepute, nor
could it allow demonstrators to attack the Chinese Embassy.
Citing international news clips which showed rough treatment
of protesters who had attempted to breach the Chinese Embassy
on March 14, Menon said that even though police had been
instructed to be gentle, when it becomes necessary to make
arrests, the police must take necessary action to stop
intruders, adding the police have a delicate balancing act in
such situations.


2. (C) Menon reported that protesters who had been detained
were being released "as we speak" on March 19. Those who had
participated in the protest march in Himachal Pradesh were
being returned to where the march began in Dharamsala. Menon
speculated that the released Tibetans would likely be
involved again in future protests. (Note: Since the meeting
we have checked with a Tibetan representative of the Dalai
Lama and were told that of the 100 detainees in Dharamsala,
only 10 had been released by COB March 19; according to the
source, none of the 150 detained in Delhi have been released.
Post is seeking clarification. End Note.)


3. (C) Tibetan protesters have a wide base of sympathy among
the Indian public, Menon said, which the GOI recognizes.
Menon pointed out that Foreign Minister Mukherjee had called
for China and the Tibetans to "address the root causes" of
the uprising, a call, Menon noted, which India had not made
in several years.


4. (C) Noting that the Chinese government had come out and
publicly praised India for its "positive" handling of the
protesters, Menon intimated that the Indian government was a
bit surprised by Premier Wen's remarks, considering that
India allowed protests to continue as long as they were done
within legal confines. Wen had made the comments, Menon
felt, as a measured tactic in order to put its best public
relations face forward, while trying to drive a wedge between
India and the Dalai Lama, as well as between India and other
countries who supported an autonomous Tibet.
MULFORD