By IANS
Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) : The Tibetan government-in-exile Thursday welcomed China’s decision to allow a select group of foreign journalists to troubled Lhasa, but urged they be given freedom to move in Tibet.
“We welcome the decision, but the journalists should be allowed full freedom to report on the ongoing crisis in Tibet,” said Kesang Takla, a spokesman of the Tibetan government-in-exile based here.
The Tibetan government-in-exile is not recognised by any nation.
“The reporters must be given full freedom to visit all monasteries and prisons in Lhasa and other places in Tibet, and be allowed to interview common Tibetans without the presence of Chinese minders,” Talka said.
Tibetan monks disrupted a tour Thursday by the first batch of foreign journalists invited by China to visit Lhasa since the protests began there March 10.
Chinese officials accompanying the mediapersons were taken by surprise when some 30 monks shouted pro-Tibetan slogans.
Television images showed some of the monks complaining and weeping.
The unrest in Tibet has left 140 Tibetans dead according to the Tibetan government-in-exile while China says 22 people have been killed.