Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO)

KOGA Says!
Worrying the Situation in Tibet, RENGO hopes the Solution through Dialogue

The impact of the riots occurred in Tibet in China has spread in ripples internationally as seen in the expressions made to boycott the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games and vigorous protest actions against torch relays in London and Paris.

The whole picture of what has happened in Tibet, including the riot which broke out in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet Region, on 14 March, is not yet clear. Most of the reports, however, are informing oppressive measures taken by the Chinese authorities, including those that the number of Tibetans who were kept in custody by the Chinese authorities has reached more than 2,300 while most of them were taking part in peaceful protest demonstrations.

RENGO is seriously worried about such a state of affairs. RENGO believes that what the Chinese Government is now demanded is not to resort to high-handed coercive measures which lack consideration for human rights, but to take measures for establishing a “Reconciled Society” which Mr. Hu Jintao, the head of state, is trying to promote. RENGO considers, therefore, that it is essential to establish a harmonious society through conducting highly transparent dialogue opened to all Tibetan groups. Violence and oppression do not bring about any solution. The Tibetan issue has been made prolonged and complicated, but the resolution through dialogue and reconciliation should be aimed at, not through the oppression of movements to call for cultural and religious freedom.

Moreover, the control and regulation imposed now upon media has had the Chinese Government lost its credibility. It is an urgent subject of and an international demand to the Chinese Government that it recognizes freedom of the press for both domestic and overseas press agencies.

RENGO will continue to pay attentions to the future development in Tibet, in expectation of human rights including freedom of speech, assembly and expression to be guaranteed and the solution to be realized not through military force but through dialogue.