Tibet supporters protest “biased” exhibition in Japan

in jiapan Dharamsala, December 19: Pro-Tibet supporters in Japan have rallied near the Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo every weekend since a “biased” exhibition on Tibet opened September 19, according to a report by Kyodo news agency.The exhibition titled ‘‘Tibet: Treasures from the Roof of the World’’ has China’s State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the Chinese Embassy listed among its official sponsors.

Sponsors and the museum hosting the exhibition have come under heated criticism from pro-Tibet activists who say the display is politically biased because of the lack of reference to historical facts about the region, the report said.

About 300 written protests and complaints, including one from an international group of pro-Tibet supporters, have arrived at the museum calling for holding an exhibition from a neutral viewpoint.

The activists have also reportedly delivered speeches with commentaries on the history of Tibet and issues related to the region.

Lhakpa Tshoko, representative of the liaison office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan and East Asia, says on the office’s official website that the exhibition ‘‘does not give the true picture of Tibet and its history.’’

Last month, Bangladeshi police in the country's capital Dhaka barred a prominent picture gallery from holding a photo exhibition following complaints from Chinese diplomats.

The exhibition "Into Exile | Tibet 1949 - 2009" featuring the journey of "Tibetans from their Homeland to Exile" was organised by the Students for a Free Tibet, Bangladesh (SFTBD)' in partnership with Drik Gallery, and included some very rare photos of the Dalai Lama's journey into exile in 1959.

Ahead of the opening of the exhibition, Bangladeshi police in riot gear arrived at the Drik Gallery at the capital's posh Dhanmondi area and sealed the place.

Defying police orders, the organisers later staged the exhibition depicting the plight of the Tibetan people on the street outside the venue.