Prominent Uyghur Democratic Leader Rebiya Kadeer expresses full support and solidarity to the Tibetan people
Washington, D.C. --- The President of the Uyghur American Association and Nobel Prize Nominee, Rebiya Kadeer, today expressed the full
support and solidarity of the Uyghur people with the Tibetans in light of the brutal crackdown on Tibetan monks and
nuns. As the family of nations is preparing to gather in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games, the slaughter of scores of
Tibetans has tainted the Beijing Olympics with the blood of innocent people.
"The horrific blood bath in Lhasa and other places in Tibet which the Chinese Security Forces perpetrated against the
peace-loving people of Tibet is another stark reminder to the world community that the brutal Chinese regime should not
be welcomed into the family of nations as a respected member without serious preconditions," said Ms. Kadeer.
"His Holiness, the Dalai Lama has dedicated his entire life to the peaceful promotion of legitimate aspirations of the
Tibetan people for cultural autonomy and survival. The world community cannot turn a blind eye to the abstinent refusal
of the Beijing regime to fully engage in open, serious and meaningful negotiations with leaders of Tibet and East
Turkestan. This obstinacy and the regime's determination to crush any demands for basic rights guaranteed by the
international community puts the responsibility for any bloodshed squarely on Beijing, and the responsibility to
intervene on the international community."
The Uyghur American Association (UAA) condemns the recent actions of People's Republic of China (PRC) authorities in
Tibet and expresses its support for the Tibetan people in their protests against the Chinese government. The violent
suppression of peaceful protests on the part of PRC security forces is unacceptable, and completely at odds with China's
expressed desire to be recognized as a responsible member of the international community.
The PRC government's fierce repression of religious expression, policies aimed at cultural assimilation, and intolerance
for any expression of discontent, no matter how peaceful, have led to tremendous social tensions in Tibet and East
Turkestan.
UAA joins other human rights organizations in urging the Chinese government to engage in constructive dialogue to seek a
peaceful end to the protests and to address the demands of the Tibetan and Uyghur people.
ENDS