Ottawa — Canada’s peaceful experience with referendums on its future has set an example for the world on successful political dissent, says the Dalai Lama.
Two votes on the future of Quebec in Canada that proceeded without violence have shown how a mature democracy can cope with change, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said in an interview Saturday with The Canadian Press.
Similar political patience must also be applied elsewhere in the world, he said, including Tibet where the Dalai Lama has long struggled for cultural and religious autonomy from China.
“Canada’s maturity in democracy was really displayed when there was a Quebec referendum and how that crisis was handled,” the 68-year-old Buddhist monk said through a translator.
“There were not shots, no arrests,” he added in English.
“Just give people free choice — I think that’s a wonderful thing. And it’s a real indication of patience.”
Many of the Dalai Lama’s followers are growing impatient, however, in their demands for autonomy from China, which sent troops into Tibet in 1951.
The Dalai Lama himself fled in 1959 and has since lived in exile, travelling the world to promote peaceful, patient change, greater attention by the world to human rights and religious tolerance.
Almost mid-way through a 19-day visit to Canada, he attracted more than 10,000 listeners Saturday afternoon to the Ottawa Civic Centre, where locally-born singer Alanis Morissette sang three songs and then introduced the Dalai Lama as a man of “vision, warmth, humour and grace.”
While his 75-minute address focused primarily on spirituality and the quest for inner peace, the afternoon began with an overtly political message from the Canada Tibet Committee.
“Canadians can make a difference for Tibet,” said an introductory video. “When a peaceful movement prevails, war loses.”
The closest the Dalai Lama came to a political statement was during a question-and-answer session at the end of his address, when he decried the violent wars that marked the 20th century.
“This century should be the century of dialogue,” he said to applause.
Prime Minister Paul Martin had discussed human rights with the lama on Friday in a historic meeting that came despite demands from Beijing that Canadian political leaders ignore the Nobel peace prize winner, considered a separatist by China.
Mr. Martin was the first Canadian prime minister to meet him, an encounter Tibetan Canadians hope marks a step toward this country helping broker talks with China on Tibet’s future.
China has argued that Ottawa — because of some Quebeckers’ aspirations for independence — should be more sensitive to Beijing’s concerns.
But the Dalai Lama insists he doesn’t seek an independent Tibet, but rather autonomy to cultivate its ancient culture and religious beliefs.
Change is coming slowly within China. Canadians can help but shouldn’t try to rush matters by demanding too much of Beijing, he said in the interview.
That means Canadians and their government should speak out wherever possible on the importance of protecting human rights but not take more “antagonistic” steps such as threatening trade sanctions or withholding aid.
“When it comes to Canada’s own matters, you have the ability to have patience,” he said, referring to Canadians’ willingness to allow Quebec to vote on its future.
“But when it comes to the outside world, you don’t have patience. It’s the opposite,” he added with his distinctive chuckle.
The Dalai Lama wouldn’t say much about his brief meeting with the prime minister beyond the fact it was “very good,” and focused on promoting human rights.
“The prime minister showed his concerns about the human rights situation in general, and in particular in Tibet.”
Friday’s meeting included about two dozen spiritual and civic leaders. It was held at the home of Ottawa’s Roman Catholic archbishop to emphasize the spiritual rather than political nature of the session in deference to China’s concerns.
Canada should continue using its ties with China to continually emphasize the importance of protecting human rights, said the Dalai Lama.
China “is not yet” ready to seriously discuss more freedoms for Tibet, he added.
But the massive state is slowly changing, showing more concern for world opinion and more interest in environmental issues such as the impact of deforestation, he said.
He believes more openness and freedom will follow.
“Because of their own awareness, because of their own experience, things are changing,” said the Dalai Lama.
“So democracy, rule of law, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, open information — these things will come.
“I think every Chinese friend in the world can help them. Remind them, remind them, remind them: it is their own interest [to change].”
