Dharamsala – China should listen to the Dalai Lama’s pledge that he is not seeking independence for Tibet, a spokesman for the Tibetan government in exile said.
“We see no reason why China keeps saying that His Holiness should give up the idea of Tibetan independence,” said Thupten Samphel on Friday.
“His Holiness for many years consistently said that he is not seeking independence of Tibet and would like to resolve the issue of Tibet through a peaceful negotiated settlement.
“In return for genuine autonomy for the six million Tibetan people, His Holiness is willing to have Tibet as a part of the People’s Republic of China,” Samphel added.
The statement came after Beijing on Tuesday brushed off a pledge by the spiritual leader not to seek Tibet’s independence and told him to take active measures to end all separatist activities.
“Generally, the attitude of the Chinese government concerning the Dalai Lama is that you should not only look at what he says, but also what he does,” said foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao in Beijing.
“If the Dalai Lama wants to really improve his relations with China, he must recognize China, objectively and completely. He must really give up any claim of independence of Tibet, to put an end to any separatist activities.”
Liu repeated China’s insistence that Tibet’s spiritual leader must also “declare publicly that Tibet is a inalienable part of China”, which he has repeatedly done.
The Buddhist monk must also recognise Taiwan as part of China, he said.
The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959 and direct ties between him and Beijing collapsed in 1993. They were renewed in 2002.
Since then China and Tibetan representatives have met three times to discuss a possible return of Tibetan exiles.
Samphel said he had no idea what China means by “separatist activities”.
He also said that any negotiation between the Chinese leadership and the representatives of the Dalai Lama should be held without preconditions.
“We hope that the present contacts between Dharamsala and Beijing will lead to a negotiated settlement,” Samphel added.
