London - The Dalai Lama Thursday called for international
observers to be allowed to monitor China's actions in Tibet where he
warned his people were facing a form of 'cultural genocide.'
Speaking on the eve of a meeting with British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown in London, the Tibetan spiritual leader urged western
nations to do more to support his people in their 'human rights
struggle.'
Touching on the controversy that has surrounded his meeting with
Brown Friday, the Dalai Lama said it did not matter to him that the
British leader was not receiving him at Downing Street, the seat of
government.
'For me - no differences. So long as meeting and talk, to
presidents, to prime ministers, or to beggars. I always meet on the
level we are human beings,' said the Dalai Lama.
Brown is the first major world leader to meet the Dalai Lama since
the recent unrest in Tibet, but in a clear attempt to avoid
diplomatic upsets with Beijing, he will receive the religious leader
at Lambeth Palace, the London residence of the Archbishop of
Canterbury.
The Dalai Lama Thursday had talks with Prince Charles, the heir to
the British throne, who is known to be a supporter and admirer of the
Buddhist cleric.
The two men, who have met on three previous occasions, planted a
magnolia tree in the garden of Clarence House, the London residence
of Prince Charles, to commemorate this year's visit.
Earlier, several hundred supporters of the Western Shugden
Society, whose members claim that the Dalai Lama represses their
religious rights, held a protest at a venue where he was giving a
lecture.
Chinese policies guaranteeing basic freedoms for Tibetans looked
'very nice on paper,' but international observers should be allowed
to check whether they were being put into practice, the Dalai Lama
said Thursday.
In a question-and-answer session with members of the parliamentary
foreign affairs committee, the exiled Tibetan leader said plainly
that Britain, and other countries, were 'not doing enough' to help
the Tibetans.
He acknowledged, however, that there were 'limitations' as to what
Britain - as well as the European Union and the US - could achieve
vis-a-vis China over the Tibet issue.
In a BBC interview earlier, the Dalai Lama said he was 'quite
optimistic' about the future because he believed that change
in China could lead to a 'more transparent' attitude over Tibet.
China's response to the Sichuan earthquake was a sign of change,
he said.
'This I think (is) one sign that the People's Republic of China is
changing, I think at least decade by decade. Hopefully now (this
will) lead to a more transparent attitude in other fields, including
the Tibet case.'
The Dalai Lama, who is on a 10-day visit to Britain, repeated
the view that he wished to a see a 'middle way' of autonomy for
Tibet, rather than full independence.
'We are not seeking separation,' he said, adding that it was in
the interests of both China and Tibet to stay together.
'Tibetan Buddhist culture can be a great contribution to enrich
(the) cultural heritage of the People's Republic of China,' he said.
'Sooner or later we'll have to talk with China's government so the
question of independence or separation is out of the question.'
While defence and foreign affairs should be governed by the
central government, the 'the rest of the business,' such as
education, environment and religious work, should be handled by
Tibetans themselves, said the Dalai Lama.
'That is real, meaningful autonomy.'
However, he warned of growing frustration if there was 'no
improvement' in Tibet.
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