NEW DELHI: The self-styled Tibetan government in exile Tuesday accused Chinese police of killing hundreds of Tibetans during recent demonstrations in Lhasa and warned that Tibetans could resort to violence to end Beijing’s rule of their homeland.

The accusations by the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies were spelled out in a letter distributed by more than 220 Tibetan refugees who staged sit-ins outside intervention in the Tibet issue.

Tsering Dhundup, a member of the assembly, said police detained 75 refugees who picketed missions in the main diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri, while sit-ins in other areas were unhindered.

China’s harsh response to pro independent protests, including the imposition last Tuesday of martial law in Tibet, “compelled us to approach your Excellency to intervene on behalf of the Tibetan people and condemn the Chinese. State terrorism against the Tibetan people,” the letter said.

Beijing said Chinese police were forced to take strident measure to quell three days of violent protests in that rocked the Tibetan capital of Lhasa beginning March 5. It said 12 people were killed but foreign witnesses put the death toll at between SO and 70 protesters.

It said that Tibetans “are determined to abide by the nonviolent methods,” to achieve independence from Beijing.

“If however, such methods fail to receive recognition and support from the rest of the world, the Tibetan people may be compelled to look for an alternative course of action,” the letter said.

The assembly in its letter, said it appealed to foreign governments to call on Beijing to lift martial law in Tibet, to urge U.N. Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar to appoint a team to investigate human rights abuses there and to back the implementation of U.N. resolutions for independence for “the roof of the world.”

The self-styled Tibetan government in exile is based in the northeastern Indian town of Dharamasala, where the Dalai Lama also. Lives, and is not recognized by any nation.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 24, 1989