Paris, 31st March 2008

As members of the world’s mountain communities we wish to express our deep concern for the current state of violence in Tibet. We are used to interacting with people from the lowlands, and have learned to recognise their differences and to respect them. Unfortunately, this respect has not always been reciprocal. Our cultures are often denied; we are not allowed to express our identity or to carry on our own way of life, and it is the frustration due to the rejection of  who and what we are that sometimes drives us to violent acts. We do not like violence, because our difficult, though always respectful, relationship with nature has taught us that violence and brutality too often turn against those who use it.

Tibetan civilisation is above all characterised by non-violence, a non-violence that lies at the heart of the people’s view of the world. Tibetans have certainly known periods in their internal relations as well as in their interaction with outsiders that have been marked by violence. But those days are long gone, and it is clear to us now that the people want only one thing: to live in peace and harmony, and to have the freedom to choose how to lead their lives.

This is why we are demanding an immediate end to this violence. The violence of the police response to the manifestations of discord, impotence and weariness that are being seen on the streets are completely disproportionate: it is the state’s violence, that denies the Tibetans’ culture and identity and imposes on them values in which they do not recognise themselves, that should rather give way to respect for this culture and identity, and should encourage their development. With the cessation of this unjust and unjustifiable violence on the part of the state, we have no doubt that the present violent response to it will have no reason to exist, and will disappear.

Documento en español :   - Document en français :

Support signatures and messages already received :

• Jean Lassalle, Député Maire de Lourdios Ichère - France
• Denis Blamont, Versailles - France
• Mayfereen Ryntathiang, Shillong - India -Wangchuk Sonam, Leh -Laddak - India
• Lepcha Pasang D, Dehli -India
• Von Arx Tamara, Zurich - Switzerland
• Fareedi Mashqura, Darjeeling - India
• Jayasooria Jochebed, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia
• ESAFF (East and Southern Small Scale Farmers Forum) - Kenya
• Fernando Mendoza - Bolivia
• Rai Roshan, Darjeeling - West Bengal - India
• Margarita Huayhua, Doctoral student in anthropology, Michigan University
• Furtado Raymond Ruben - Uttaranchal - India
• Santillo Sonja, UNCEM, Roma - Italia
• Paolo Allemano, Maire de Saluzzo - Italie
• Jean-Yves Dubois, Maire-adjoint de Aime - France
• Tazi Leila, Casablanca - Maroc
• Association AMRASH -Maroc
• Pierre Jarlier , Sénateur Maire de St-Flour - Membre du groupe d'information sur le Tibet au Sénat - France
• Rabat Gérard, Maire de Py - France
• Shekhar Pathak - Nainital Uttaranchal - India
• Vaxelaire Guy, Maire de La Bresse - France
• Bonal Elsa, Arles - France
• Dumoulin Pascal, Cotacachi, Imbabura - Ecuador
• Thakur Ashkok, Simla - Himachal Pradesh - India
• Pino Zambrano Vidal - Los Andes - ciudad de Cusco - Peru
• Heuteu Claude, Fair Trade Focal point - Cameroun
• Luciano Caveri, Président de la région autonome Vallée d'Aoste - Italie
• Chakraborty Sanat K. - Shillong - Meghalaya - India
• Saïd Kamel, Président de l'APMM-Maroc
• Ouachrine Houssa - Maroc
• Lemzah Hamed - Moyen Atlas - Maroc
• Pierre Amado, Directeur de recherche émérite au CNRS - France
• Didier Hervé, Directeur de l'IPHB - France
• Sophie Sabatié, Rions-des-Landes - France
• Pierre Teillaud, 1er adjoint au Maire d'Olargues - France
• Jean Milesi, Maire de Melagues - France
• Bernadette Bourzai, Députée Européenne - Massif Central - France
• Yanco Guillermo, Argentine
• Jean Briane, Membre Honoraire du Parlement - France
• Philippe Folliot, Député du Tarn, Vice-président du groupe d'étude sur le Tibet - France
• Nicolas Krausz, Assistant Parlementaire - France
• Frédéric Apollin, Directeur des Programmes d'Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières - France
• Florence Petitguyot, Chargée de projet saisonnalité - France
• Joël Giraud, Maire de l'Argentière-La-Bessée, Député des Hautes Alpes - France
• Jean-Yves Prudhomme, Maire d'Igon, Pyrénées-Atlantiques - France
• Marie-Gabrielle Monset, 2ème adjointe au maire ASSON (Béarn) Pyrénées-Atlantiques - France

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