Singapore, March 25 (DPA) Singapore supports China’s policy of handling the unrest in Tibet with “minimum use of force” and opposes the politicization of the Olympic Games, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.
“We note the comment of premier Wen Jiabao that China is prepared to hold dialogue with the Dalai Lama based on ‘One China’ and the renunciation of violence, and we are relieved that the situation in Tibet is calming down,” the ministry’s statement said.
China contends the exiled Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, was aiming to upset the games in Beijing this summer and was behind the protests that started March 10 with rallies the Lhasa, Tibet’s capital.
A subsequent riot on March 14 left 19 dead, China said, while the Tibetan government-in-exile in India said 130 were killed in the clashes with police.
“Singapore supports the declared policy of the Chinese government to protect the lives and property of its citizens from violent demonstrators with minimum use of force,” the Singapore statement said.
The Dalai Lama has consistently denied that he is behind the protests.
Beijing has vowed that Tibet will still be included in the Olympic torch relay.