Statements

From our standpoint to seek peace and to protect freedom of speech and human rights, we, the Writers in Prison and Human Rights Committee of the Japan P.E.N. Club, express our concern on the severe suppression by the Chinese authorities on the Tibetans taking part in orderly protests in Tibet and other areas. We also cannot connive at the fact that the Chinese government has laid regulation on speech made inside China, news collection on the scene by journalists and foreign medias concerning Tibet.

The Writers in Prison and Human Rights Committee of the Japan P.E.N. Club demand the following to the Chinese government.

1. To correspond with self-control to protests in Tibet and to listen to all voices seeking for peaceful dialogues.

2. To guarantee the Tibetans' rights for freedom of expression, assembly, and association, and to release the people under arrest or restraint for exercising the above rights.

3. To guarantee that journalists are able to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region and the nearby Tibetan residential area without barriers.

4. To agree to research by international committees such as the UN's investigation.

Moreover, we demand that the Japanese government will appeal to the Chinese government to take the most controlled response to the situation in Tibet today, together with the international society.

Tokyo, March 26th, 2008