Exiled Tibetans protest in Shimla against China

Members of the exiled Tibetan community staged a protest on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the signing of a historic document between China and the Dalai Lama in 1951.

It maybe recalled that a Tibetan delegation led by the 14th Dalai Lama reached an agreement with the Central People's Government of China on affirming Chinese sovereignty over Tibet. It was called the "17-point agreement".

Tibetans, both young and old, took out a protest rally in northern hill town of Shimla and shouted slogans against China. They claimed that the Tibetan delegation signed the pact under pressure from the Chinese authorities.

After the signing of the agreement on May 23, the Dalai Lama fled to India with over 80, 000 Tibetans.

"The prime purpose of this rally is we are not accepting this 17-point agreement which was happened 51 years back and that was (?not clear) signed under the pressure made by the Chinese. So, we are completely against this 17-point agreement," said a protestor, Tenzin Namsal.

The protestors sought the intervention of the United Nations to get freedom from China.

"We are demanding that UNO and all countries should help us to get freedom from China," said another protestor, Tenzin Dhonyo.

China describes the incorporation of Tibet into its territory in 1951 as a "peaceful liberation", and says it has brought development to what was a backward region.

Exiles and rights groups accuse China of failing to respect Tibet's unique religion and culture and of suppressing its people. China says Tibet already has genuine autonomy, and that exile groups seek to split the country.