CHINA ‘WIPING OUT TIBETANS’

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28963, 3 August 1959, Page 8

CHINA ‘WIPING OUT TIBETANS’

Claim By Dalai Lama’s Brother (N.Z Press Association—Copyright) VIENNA, July 31. A brother of the exiled Dalai Lama said today that the Chinese Communists had sterilised tens of thousands of Tibetans and were definitely trying to wipe out the race. Thubten Jigme Norbu, the Tibetan spiritual leader’s eldest brother, was speaking at a news conference in Vienna in connexion with the World Refugee Year. Mr Norbu said Tibetans were continuing to fight the Chinese. Guerrillas in the southern provinces had been practically wiped out, but others were still resisting strongly in the provinces of Ando and Kham, he said. Practically only old people and children remained in the capital. Lhasa. Tibet’s only hope now lay in intervention by the United Nations; intervention which might succeed in saving the last remnants of his people, said Mr Norbu.

The networks of roads and airfields being built by the Communist Chinese in Tibet were not needed for the conquest of Tibet, nor to hold it, but were intended for still further expansion.

Asked in what direction, Mr Norbu replied: “Toward Nepal.” Mr Norbu then made a joint statement with the free Hungarian leader (Anna Kethiety) in which they said that “never before in history have so many millions been uprooted and deprived of their national heritage.” They hoped the World Refugee Year would provide a turning point in history. Mr Norbu added that 15.000 Tibetan refugees had gone to India, and that not one of them had returned. Tibetan leaders hoped it would be possible to settle them in other countries.