The Maltese government is calling on the Chinese government to respect human rights and “Tibetan culture, religion and identity”.
But the Maltese government is also calling on Tibetan protesters to desist from violence.
“The Chinese authorities are urged to refrain from using force against those involved in unrest and demonstrators are called to desist from violence,” Foreign Minister Tonio Borg told MaltaToday.
The Maltese government’s declaration comes in the wake of unrest in occupied Tibet. China says 13 people were killed by rioters in Lhasa. Tibetan exiles say 99 have died in clashes with authorities.
“The concerns of Tibetans with regard to issues of human rights need to be addressed by the Chinese authorities,” Borg told MaltaToday.
The Maltese Government is adhering to the European Union’s common position on the situation in Tibet.
In line with this common position the Maltese government is calling for   restraint on both sides.
But the Maltese government is supporting  the Tibetans’ right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest.
“Authorities in the region are called to respond to the demonstrations in accordance with internationally recognized democratic principles.”
The Maltese government said it encourages both sides “to enter into a substantive and constructive dialogue with a view to reach a sustainable solution acceptable to all that would fully respect the Tibetan culture, religion and identity.”
Yesterday the Dalai Lama called for an end to violent protests in Tibet, denying claims by China that he was responsible for the unrest.
He said he would resign as head of Tibet’s government-in-exile if the violence in his homeland worsened.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao earlier accused the Dalai Lama of masterminding the protests against Chinese rule.
The protests began on 10 March – the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule – and have gradually escalated.
The Dalai Lama spoke in Dharamsala in northern India, where his Free Tibet Movement is based, to reject accusations by Wen of orchestrating the violence.
“Violence is against human nature,” the Dalai Lama, 72, said. “We should not develop anti-Chinese feelings. We must live together side by side.”
The Tibetans are increasingly becoming a minority in their own homeland with the Chinese government encouraging migration of Chinese migrants.
The disturbances in Tibet risk overshadowing the Olympic games set to begin in China on 8 August.
China has been aggressively censoring international media in an attempt to lock down information about the violent demonstrations in Tibet’s capital, Lhasa.
Mr Wen also said the protesters “wanted to incite the sabotage of the Olympic Games in order to achieve their unspeakable goal”.
The Dalai Lhama himself is opposed to calls by human rights groups for a boycott of the games.
Moviment Graffitti will be organising a symbolic protest activity in front of the Chinese Embassy in Saint Julians next Wednesday at 10:00 am.
Moviment Graffitti is expressing its full condemnation to the use of violence by China to put down peaceful protests in Tibet and calls on the Chinese Government to take concrete action to respect the human rights and freedoms of the Tibetans.