Today is the 50th anniversary of Tibet’s failed uprising against China, after which the Dalai Lama fled to India. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate said today that life in Tibet has been “hell on earth” since then. Here’s part of his statement, which is posted in full on his Web site.

“These 50 years have brought untold suffering and destruction to the land and people of Tibet. Even today, Tibetans in Tibet live in constant fear and the Chinese authorities remain constantly suspicious of them. Today, the religion, culture, language and identity, which successive generations of Tibetans have considered more precious than their lives, are nearing extinction; in short, the Tibetan people are regarded like criminals deserving to be put to death.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime supporter of the Dalai Lama, said yesterday that “if freedom-loving people do not speak out for human rights in China and Tibet, then we lose the moral authority to talk about it in any other place in the world.”

For a news roundup of the day’s stories on Tibet, see Chaplain Danny’s blog.