Tibetans resigned to little help from world

China this week expressed "grave concern" over a planned meeting between British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Dalai Lama.

And last year China temporarily barred U.S. warships from docking in Hong Kong after President Bush presented the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress' highest civilian honor.

No country faces this dilemma more so than India. On the one hand, it hosts the Tibetan exiles. But it also now has its closest ties to China since the two Asian neighbors fought a 1962 border war. Last year, two-way trade reached $37 billion.

India has allowed the Tibetans to protest peacefully, but detained several dozen who planned to march from India to Tibet to coincide with the Olympics, saying India would not tolerate actions that embarrassed China.

Protests in India, London
In Dharmsala, hundreds of demonstrators marched Saturday to condemn China's crackdown in the region.

"We pray that the Dalai Lama's peaceful efforts to negotiate with China bear fruit," said Prem Sagar, a rally organizer.

In London, more than 300 people, including many exiled Tibetans, marched past the Chinese Embassy.

Some argue that only international pressure has stopped China from completely crushing the Tibetans long ago.

Still, for the many Tibetan exiles who lack the Zen-like patience of the Dalai Lama, the absence of concrete action from the international community, particularly the United Nations, is galling.

"We want justice from the U.N., it is the only place where we can go to seek justice for the people killed in Tibet," said Zamba Tshering, 26, a Tibetan exile protesting outside U.N. offices in Katmandu, Nepal.

Little U.N. interest in intervention
While U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on both sides to show "restraint" earlier in the week, the U.N. has shown little interest in getting involved in the issue, perhaps an acknowledgment of China's status as one of the Security Council's five veto-wielding permanent members.

The Security Council has never debated the Tibet issue and it has not been raised in the broader General Assembly since 1965.

"The U.N. has so many procedures, so sometimes genuine issues don't come up," said Sonam Dagpo, a senior official in the exile's Department of Information and International Relations.

Others were less tactful.

"When it comes to dollars, everyone wants dollars. When it comes to human rights, it is shoved under the carpet," said Tsewang Rigzin, the leader of the Tibetan Youth Congress.

More from msnbc.com Black workers' crisis may linger after upturn Afghan scouts learn to ‘be prepared!’ First Read: Obama faces 'historic week' Scoop: White House crashers know rules of fame Share pics of your decorated Christmas tree On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM ASIA-PACIFIC

Asia-Pacific Section Front

Mideast markets nosedive amid Dubai woes America wages new war in Vietnam — on AIDS U.S. ecoterror suspect in China jail 3 Americans die in China plane crash Newsweek: How Obama is changing China Asia-Pacific Section Front   Add Asia-Pacific headlines to your news reader: