For immediate release
March 17, 2008, 11:00 EST
Contact: Uyghur American Association +1 (202) 349 1496

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 prepares to gather for the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing has tainted the Olympics with the blood of innocent people.

"The atrocities 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 obstinate 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 two sides must seek a peaceful solution to this event by coming together for a meaningful dialogue that addresses the sources of the protesters’ discontent."

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 right of the Tibetan people to engage in peaceful demonstrations. 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.