EU worried about Tibet but opposes Olympics boycott

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

BRUSSELS (AFP) — The European Commission expressed concern Monday about the unrest in Tibet, but opposed any boycott on the Beijing Olympic Games this summer.

"We are very concerned by the events in Tibet and we are calling for restraint on all sides," the commission's external relations spokeswoman said.

On the Olympics, she said: "In our view, such a boycott would not be the appropriate way to address the work for respect of the human rights, which means the ethnic and religious rights, of the Tibetans."

"It's something that has to be done in a different way," she said.

The reaction came as exiled Tibetan leaders said that about 100 people, and possibly hundreds, had been killed in the Chinese crackdown on protests in Lhasa and throughout the...