Tepid Statements by US and EU Governments

According to CNN, the US and EU governments issued these tepid statements as Tibet reels under the largest pro-independence demonstrations in two decades:

“Beijing needs to respect Tibetan culture, needs to respect multi-ethnicity in their society,” [U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon] Johndroe said.

“We regret the tensions between the ethnic groups and Beijing. The president has said consistently that Beijing needs to have a dialog with the Dalai Lama.”

Meanwhile French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says EU leaders have launched an appeal to China to show “restraint” in Tibet, AP said.

The Washington Post added:

U.S. ambassador to China Clark Randt told senior Chinese officials of Washington’s concern over the violence in Lhasa… [and] urge[d] restraint on the part of the Chinese officials and Chinese security forces 

Is that it?!  Did we miss something here?  This is about as weak as Canada’s statement expressing “serious concern.”

Mr. Johndroe, is China simply “disrespecting” Tibetan culture? Minister Kouchner, as a humanitarian we would expect so much more from you.  Ambassador Randt, how about urging more than “restraint”?

How about something like this instead:

“We deeply deplore the Chinese government’s unjustified violent crackdown in Tibet and demand that the Chinese government immediately stop its aggression.  We call on the Chinese government to respect the human rights of the Tibetan people, including their right to self-determination as recognized twice by the U.N. General Assembly.  We will be bringing this matter before the U.N. Security Council as a grave threat to international peace and security, just like the situation in Burma.  If China cannot accomodate Tibetan desires for freedom in a reasonable way, we will apply the Kosovo model and recognize Tibetan independence.”