Guwahati, Feb. 5: The Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, today said his government was ready to come to a settlement with the Chinese government, provided Tibet is granted full autonomy.

Sangay was in the city to be a part of the ongoing Festival of Tibet, which will conclude tomorrow.

Interacting with the media here, Sangay said the Tibetan government-in-exile has been following the path of non-violence for the past 55 years to attain freedom for the Tibetan people. He also spoke about the atrocities that his countrymen are subjected to by Chinese soldiers for no fault of theirs.

“We just want freedom for our Tibetan people. We have been living in exile for 55 years and now want to return to our country. We are even ready to compromise with the Chinese government, provided our government and Tibet is granted full autonomy, though our country will still remain under China. Even the Dalai Lama wishes to return to Tibet. We want peace for our people,” said Sangay.

“I am a Buddhist and believe in the teachings of non-violence that Lord Buddha preached. His teachings bear marked resemblance to the principles followed by Mahatma Gandhi during the Indian struggle for independence. A total of 123 Tibetan youths have committed suicide by self-immolation in their struggle for freedom. Though this is a violent path, which Buddhism prohibits, we cannot let their sacrifices go in waste. A person takes such extreme steps only when his capacity to bear atrocities is exhausted,” said Sangay.

“The Chinese government is subjecting our Tibetan brothers in Tibet to immense atrocities. We cannot even speak our own language publicly and those who support the Dalai Lama are imprisoned. Even 10 people cannot gather in an area as the Chinese soldiers assume them to be carrying out an agitation and torture them. We want an end to all this and live peacefully,” said Sangay.