Tibetans-in-Exile Pray for Those Killed by Chinese Troops

On Wednesday, Tibetans-in-exile in India held prayers for those killed during the two days of shooting in China’s southwest Sichuan Province.

[Unidentified Tibetan Buddhist Nun in Dharamsala]:
"Chinese army had fired…so many Tibetans got injured…I don't know if they have died…for that purpose we are doing prayers today."

Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay joined Buddhist monks and hundreds of Tibetans-in-exile for the prayers.

The former speaker for the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile condemns the killing.

[Karma Choephel, Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Former Speaker]:
"Because of the oppressive policies of the Chinese government on the Tibetan people…people are very much dissatisfied with the policies and therefore, this is going on."

Executive director of the New York-based Students for a Free Tibet says the shootings highlight the severity of the crisis inside Tibet.

[Tenzin Dorjee, Students for a Free Tibet Executive Director]:
"The fact that the Chinese government is using live ammunition shooting at people on the first day of Chinese New Year and on the second day of Chinese New Year. I think that goes to show how great and extreme the Chinese repression is inside Tibet…They don’t even hold back from doing this kind of brutality on their own New Year."

Dorjee describes the situation as "A virtual martial law and imposition of a state of terror inside Tibet."

He appeals to the global community to take immediate action.

[Tenzin Dorjee, Students for a Free Tibet Executive Director]:
"The Tibetan people are crying for help. They are dying for freedom. The international community can step in. And they must use this opportunity to call on their congressional representatives and their political leaders so that these political leaders and governments make public statements in support of Tibetan human rights and condemning China."

Dorjee believes diplomatic pressure has an impact on the Chinese regime, which has ruled over Tibet since 1950.