BEIJING — A group of Chinese writers, dissidents, and lawyers has braved the threat of government retribution and the hostility of angry nationalists by calling for talks with the Dalai Lama and an end to the propaganda war over Tibet.

The open letter, written by 29 leading intellectuals, said that the unrest showed that China’s policy towards Tibet had failed. it added that it was time to allow freedom of speech and religion, to invite the press and the United nations human rights commission into the region, and to hold direct dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

it also singled out the increasingly strident response of both the government and ordinary Chinese, at home and abroad, for criticism.

“The one-sided propaganda of the official Chinese media is having the effect of stirring up interethnic animosity and aggravating an already tense situation,” it said. “Adopting a posture of aggressive nationalism will only invite antipathy from the international community and harm China’s international image.”

The likely response to the letter from the government can be judged by its fresh attacks on the Dalai Lama yesterday.

People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party, said the non-violent stance of “the Dalai clique” was “an outright lie from start to end.” it added: “The Dalai Lama is scheming to take the Beijing Olympics hostage to force the Chinese government to make concessions to Tibet independence.” The Dalai Lama rejected the accusation, saying he had “always supported” the Olympics taking place in China.

The government regards the Tibet issue as among its most sensitive political issues, and even its fiercest domestic opponents normally steer clear.

The press has been ordered to use only nationally approved reports on the unrest, which closely follow the government’s position — even though this has led to the government’s version of events emerging slowly and without clarity.

Meanwhile internet postings critical of the government have been removed or blocked.

The letter’s signatories, who include some of the greatest thorns in Beijing’s flesh, are taking a particularly severe risk.

Ding Zilin is the leader of the Mothers of Tiananmen, which represents the parents of those who died in the crackdown on student unrest in 1989. Teng Biao is a lawyer and part of the defence team for Hu Jia, a dissident who went on trial for subversion last week. Before the trial, Mr. Teng was briefly abducted and threatened by unknown assailants.

The Olympics torch relay was also hit when a Thai environmental activist, Narisa Chakrabongse, who was to have taken part, said she was pulling out in protest.

China’s army of internet politicians has rallied round the government. Some have set up Web sites and posted films to expose what they see as Western press bias, drawing attention to photographs of police breaking up protests that appeared to be taken in Tibet but were, in fact, taken in Nepal.

Some unleash angry obscenities, and say that China’s critics are welcome to stay away from the Olympics. “If you don’t want to come, don’t!” said one. “If you don’t want to participate, don’t!” However, with the opposing view being censored, it is hard to tell to what extent such attitudes reflect popular opinion.