DHARMSALA, India — The Dalai Lama will join Tibetan exiles around the world in a 12-hour prayer service and a symbolic fast to fight against oppression in the world, especially in Tibet, a statement from the Tibetan government-in-exile said.
"It will be one of the most important nonviolent campaigns by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee to get support from the world community for world peace and fight against oppression in the world in general and particularly in Tibet," a statement issued Friday said.
Samdhong Rinpoche, prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile and a high-ranking lama, called the Aug. 30 event an "extremely important nonviolent action taken by Tibetans under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a very critical period for Tibet, particularly the post-Olympic period."
The Dalai Lama has been vilified by Chinese authorities who blame him for recent unrest in Tibet which Beijing says was part of a campaign to split the Himalayan region from the rest of China.
The Dalai Lama has denied the allegations, saying that despite China's harsh crackdown on the demonstrations that erupted in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa in March, he only wants greater autonomy for the Himalayan region to protect its Buddhist culture.
Dharmsala in India has been the headquarters of Tibetan exiles since the Dalai Lama fled there after an abortive uprising against China in 1959.
While many Tibetans opposed China's hosting of the Olympics, the Dalai Lama said that he supported the Beijing Games.
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