The Secret Tibet (The Forbidden world)

(The Tibet Post International 12 November 2008)-(Tibet.net 12 November) Dharamsala—Chinese lawyer Zhu Jiuhu expressed his support of meaningful autonomy for Tibet during a trial in Chengdu on 5 November. Zhu was defending Chen Daojun, Chinese writer charged with inciting separatist activities.

In his statement, Zhu said, “His Holiness clearly said he is seeking a meaningful regional autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the People’s Republic of China and not separation of Tibet.” He shares the Dalai Lama’s concern over the protection of Tibetan culture, language, and Tibet’s fragile ecosystem, and said the only way these can be protected is under a genuine Tibetan autonomy.

He said His Holiness Dalai Lama’s appeal for meaningful and genuine regional national autonomy is consistent with the Chinese constitution and Deng Xiaoping’s policy to accord real regional national autonomy to all ethnic minority regions.

Condemning the Chinese government for making baseless allegations against His Holiness the Dalai Lama following the peaceful protests in Tibet in March this year, Zhu said the international community including governments around the world widely supported that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is seeking genuine autonomy and not independence.

Chinese dissident writer Zhao Dagong praised Zhu’s willingness and courage to openly advocate the His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s positions.

Earlier, Chinese intellectuals and lawyers have expressed similar views supporting genuine autonomy for Tibet and asked the Chinese government to resolve the issue of Tibet through meaningful dialogue.

Attorney Zhu Jiuhu is well known for his human rights defense work. In 2005, he faced illegal imprisonment for 5 years for assisting Gao Zhisheng during a case on oil field in northern Shaanxi province.