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Change Your Life! |
Dalai Lama calls for Tibetan autonomy, not independence |
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April 19, 2000
TOKYO, APR 18 (AP) - The Dalai Lama said Tuesday that he only wants autonomy for Tibet, not independence from China.
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, in Japan for a weeklong visit, urged China to stop oppression in his homeland.
"Whether we like it or not, we have to live side by side - the Tibetans and the Chinese," he said. "We must follow nonviolence."
The Dalai Lama urged China to allow freedom of speech so its people can learn what their government is doing to Tibetans.
"Strict information control is very harmful. I want to make an earnest request to make information open and available and let the people judge what is right or wrong," the Dalai Lama said.
There are small signs of improvement, with some Chinese, mainly intellectuals, beginning to learn more about Tibet, he said.
He urged the Chinese government to send a mission to Tibet to make an accurate assessment of the situation.
The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 with thousands of supporters after a failed revolt. From his headquarters at Dharmsala in northern India, he has headed a nonviolent struggle against Chinese rule ever since.
The Dalai Lama, winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, arrived in Japan on Thursday. He has lectured in Kyoto and Tokyo and several other cities.
He said Tuesday that the Japanese government was concerned about China's reaction to its granting him a visa. Japan granted the visa despite repeated objections from China.
A Foreign Ministry official refused to say if the Dalai Lama was granted a visa on condition that he shun political activity.
Speaking
on condition of anonymity, the official denied reports that
the ministry pressured Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, a vocal critic of
China, to cancel a meeting with the Dalai Lama.
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