Exiled Tibet PM urges intervention over China violence

Sangay says it was high time for it to intervene to prevent further bloodshed.

DHARAMSHALA: The Tibetan prime minister in exile has called on the international community to intervene after violent clashes between locals and security forces in a Tibetan-inhabited area of China.

"How long and how many tragic deaths are necessary before the world takes a firm moral stand?" recently elected exiled premier Lobsang Sangay said in a statement Tuesday.

Arguing that the international community could not "remain passive" in the face of the violence in Sichuan province, Sangay said it was "high time for it to intervene to prevent further bloodshed."

"Silence from the world community sends a clear message to China that its repressive and violent measures to handle tensions in Tibetan areas are acceptable," he added, describing China's actions as "immoral".

The United States said Tuesday it was "seriously concerned" by reports of the deadly clashes in which police are accused of opening fire on peaceful protesters.

But China has accused "overseas secessionist groups" of trying to discredit the government.

Sangay, a 43-year-old Harvard scholar, took office as head of the Tibetan government in exile, which is based in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamshala, in August.

In a shift from the dominance of Tibetan politics by religious figures, Sangay, who has never set foot in Tibet, assumed the political leadership role relinquished by the 76-year-old Dalai Lama.

In the latest bout of violence, Chinese police on Tuesday opened fire on a protest in Seda county of Sichuan province, killing two people, according to the exiled Tibetan government and advocacy group Free Tibet.