07/03/2008, 00.00
CHINA - TIBET
Send to a friend

Dalai Lama envoys leave Beijing at end of talks

Nothing revealed about outcome. China had re-opened negotiations to avoid a boycott of the Olympics. But the secretary of the Communist Party in Tibet continues his campaign of accusations against the “Dalai Lama’s clique”.

Beijing (AsiaNews) – The Dalai Lama’s two envoys yesterday concluded their talks with the Chinese government and today headed back to Daramshala to inform the Tibetan spiritual leader of their outcome.  The two envoys, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, will almost certainly hold a press conference following their meeting with the Dalai Lama.  In a letter, the Tibetan leader reaffirmed his commitment to “We are committed to resolving the issue of Tibet through dialogue and discussion in finding a mutually acceptable solution, that is, within the constitution of the People's Republic of China”.

Officially, there has been no communication regarding the outcome of the talks.  Chinese media did not even report on the meetings taking place.  Contrary to this in the Tibet Daily, official paper of the communist party in the region, party secretary, Zhang Qingli, launched a series of heated accusations against the “Dalai clique” and its involvement in the March protests which led to the military repression and isolation of Tibet.  Months ago Zhang accused the Dalai Lama of being “a devil dressed in monks robes”, “a beast, a wolf with a human face and animal heart”, and he had also accused him of plotting the Lhasa protests together with “hostile western forces”.

Yesterday’s was the second round of talks since the violent repression of Tibet last March.  China accepted to enter into dialogue with the Dalai Lama envoys after increased international pressure and threats of a boycott of the Olympic Games.  In the past, in 2002, there had already been attempts at a China-Tibet dialogue, but no progress was made at the time.  Beijing continues to accuse the Dalai Lama of being bent on destroying Chinese unity and of wanting to bring independence to the Tibetan region.  For his part the Dalai Lama has long maintained that he is not seeking independence from Beijing but only “religious and cultural autonomy” to save Tibet from “cultural genocide”.

 

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
Bush will go to the Olympics; Pelosi speaks out against the occupation of Tibet
21/03/2008
Catholic music to promote dialogue in Ambon, the city of sectarian violence
17/10/2018 13:29
Beijing continues arrests and sentencings, Tibetans seek new means of struggle
05/11/2008
Tibetan exiles’ “return march’ reaches New Delhi
09/04/2008
Dalai Lama says he will not resign, but will step aside for democracy
19/03/2008


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”