Tibetan PM seeks global support for non-violent struggle

Dharamsala, March 13 (IANS) The international community should support Tibet because of the non-violent struggle of its people, Tibetan prime minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay has said.

"It's not an extremist or violent struggle as we see in many parts of the world," Sangay told reporters at the French Parliament on Thursday.

He said the support for Tibet is a support for non-violence and peace, so that others might follow non-violence.

Tibet Group president in the French senate Michel Raison, who was accompanying Sangay, said: "The non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people must be commended and is an example for other struggles to follow."

He said the human rights of the Tibetan people were the most important and the Tibet supporters in both -- the French national assembly and senate -- are working together for Tibet.

"The French people support us for being involved in the non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people," Raison said.

Expressing concern about the large migration of Chinese population into Tibet, Sangay said: "Inside Tibet, nothing has changed... in fact it has gotten worse."

The security surveillance has been increased and the introduction of second-generation chips ID cards have been introduced to monitor the movements of Tibetans by the Chinese security authorities, he said.

About the dialogue with China, the Tibetan political leader said "the envoys of the Dalai Lama are ready to engage in dialogue with their Chinese counterpart at any time and any place".

The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan religious leader, has been living in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959. The Tibetan-in-exile administration is based in this northern Indian hill town.