By Patrick Leeman
The Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, believes that rural education should be a priority for the South African government.
Speaking in Durban yesterday, he said South Africa had made great political strides during the past 10 years, but that there was now room for “emotional growth”.
“Needy” people in South Africa should develop more self-confidence, he said, while those at the receiving end of economic benefits had a responsibility to share their generosity with others.
Speaking about the Tibetan situation, the Dalai Lama said that during the past few years Tibetan delegations had paid several visits to the People’s Republic of China. However, the Chinese authorities remained suspicious and often referred to the spiritual leader’s “insincerity”.
The repression in Tibet was ongoing, he said.
In the early 1980s the Chinese authorities had offered to allow the Dalai Lama to return to the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, to enjoy the same privileges he had before 1959, when he fled to northern India.
Asked if this was not a missed opportunity, the Dalai Lama said that soon after the offer had been made, the communist Chinese government had cracked down on dissent in the Tiannenmen Square demonstrations in Beijing.
He said he had since been told by a well-informed Tibetan leader that the Chinese authorities would not treat him well if he returned to Lhasa and that he would have limited powers.
The Dalai Lama will give a series of lectures at the Playhouse Opera today before leaving Durban.
