Taipei - Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has thanked
Taiwan for the moral support Taipei has extended towards Tibetan
exiles' fight for freedom of Tibet, the Presidential Office said
Wednesday.
The Dalai Lama expressed gratitude to Taiwan in a letter to
President Chen Shui-bian, passed by the Dalai Lama's representative
office in Taipei.
In his letter, the leader of Tibetan exiles thanked Chen and the
Taiwan government for the support and friendship over so many years,
especially Taipei's concern over the recent uprising in
Tibet, the Presidential Office said in a statement.
The Dalai Lama also hailed Taiwan's March 22 presidential
election as an example of Taiwan's people's 'embracing democracy' and
'setting a model' for Asian countries.
Although Chen's ruling party DPP lost in the election, the letter
said, Tibetan people want to thank Chen and the Taiwan government for
Taipei's support and friendship over all these years.
The 72-year-old Dalai Lama visited Taiwan in 1997 and 2001 to
spread Buddhism and to open a representative office, but he declined
Chen's further invitation to visit Taiwan, for fear of hurting his
ties with China.
Since fleeing Tibet following an abortive uprising against China
in 1959, the Dalai Lama has been seeking to open dialogue with
Beijing and to return to Tibet.
China has held six rounds of talks with the Dalai Lama's envoy,
but has barred him from returning home for fear he might incite
Tibetans to seek independence for Tibet.
President Chen on many occasions has condemned China's suppression
of Tibetans, saying the future of Tibet must be decided by the
Tibetan people and the future of Taiwan must be decided by the Taiwan
people.
BasilMar 30th, 2008 - 17:53:57
This must be Chen Shui Bian's swan song. Good riddance to a corrupt President who will be stepping down before May 20 after losing heavily in recent elections to Ma Ying Jeou. This is despite the Tibet riots perpetrated by western interests to try to influence the elections. Chen Shui Bian may even land up in jail soon as he cannot cover his corrupt tracks using presidential powers any longer.
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