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Dalai Lama takes China to task over treatment of Tibet

The Dalai Lama waves to the staff of the legislature as he is led into the Legislative Yuan by speaker Wang Jin-pyng, right, to deliver a speech yesterday. PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES

The exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama, visiting Taiwan for the second time, yesterday lashed out at the Chinese government's hard line on Tibet and urged China to seek a mutually acceptable solution to the issue.

Reiterating that he was not seeking independence for his Chinese-ruled homeland, but a high degree of autonomy for Tibet, the Dalai Lama declared that he would withdraw from politics altogether if democratization were realized in Tibet -- and that the current Dalai Lama, the fourteenth, could be the last Dalai Lama if the Tibetans agreed.

"China's tight authoritarian control on Tibet's culture and environment has been a source of mutual misery. In Tibet, there is no genuine stability and unity -- which only comes from the heart, not from suppression. As a public speaker demanding liberty and democracy, I am calling on the Chinese government to reach for a mutually acceptable solution [to the Tibet issue]," he said during an address to legislators and staff at the Legislative Yuan, hosted by speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平).

The Tibetan spiritual leader expressed his displeasure that the truth about Tibet was not properly publicized to the world.

"The current condition in Tibet is obviously not good because if Tibetans were to enjoy autonomy and liberty, there would be no reason for China to restrict foreigners from visiting Tibet ? The reality should be revealed to the rest of the world."

Reiterating his stance that he is not asking for Tibetan independence, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate told the crowd that he was "willing to accept autonomy if that would help preserve the culture and environment of the six million Tibetans."

To make clear that his fight for freedom and autonomy was not for his own end, the Tibetan monk said that he would abandon all political activities if democracy were established in Tibet, and that the institution of Dalai Lama could be terminated if Tibetans so decided.

"I am not asking for anything [for myself] from China. I said in 1969 that the institution of Dalai Lama could be discontinued if that's the public wish of the Tibetans. If one day I could return to Tibet, I would be willing to hand over my political powers to a popularly elected government," he said.

He added that a few weeks ago he had decided to abolish the current system whereby he was entitled to nominate the chairman of the parliament-in-exile, so that the future leader of the government-in-exile would not be nominated by him, but would be elected.

Besides voicing his thoughts on the Tibet issue, the Dalai Lama encouraged Taiwan to work hard and be confident in the face of the country's political and economic predicaments.

The Dalai Lama has lived in northern India since 1959, when he and thousands of followers fled their homeland after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

While his government-in-exile has no international recognition, the Dalai Lama's non-violent campaign to free Tibet won him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, and he has garnered widespread international sympathy and financial support.

This is the Dalai Lama's second visit to Taiwan. He first visited in 1997. In May last year, the Dalai Lama declined an invitation to attend the inauguration of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) for fear of angering Beijing.
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