Don’t “disturb” the torch relay in Tibet, Dali Lama says
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Dalai Lama appealed to Tibetans not to disturb the Olympic torch relay as it passes through their capital Lhasa next week. The exact details of its schedule are being kept secret for fear of unrest in the province. On Wednesday the torch relay ran through the Tibetan city of Shangri-La in Yunnan province, before leaving for Guizhou.
From Sidney (Australia), where he is conducting a series of meditation seminars and where he met acting Australian prime minister, Senator Chris Evans, the Dalai Lama yesterday reiterated his full support for the Beijing Olympics, saying he did not want the torch to spark protests in Lhasa like those that erupted when the relay passed through London and Paris in the first stage of its round-the-world journey.
“Over a billion Chinese brothers and sisters feel very proud of it, we must respect this; therefore we should not disturb it,” he explained.
Pro-Tibet groups have criticised the torch relay, a symbol of brotherhood and human rights, for going through Tibet because the region is still under tight military control following protests in March which, according to exiled Tibetans, left at least 203 people dead from the crackdown. Since then the region is no-go zone for tourists and foreign journalists.
Beijing has always accused the Dalai Lama of separatism, pointing the finger at him for the world-wide protest movement that dogged the torch relay; charging him with trying to undermine the Games.
However, in early May under international pressure the Chinese government accepted to resume the dialogue with representatives of the Dalai Lama. As a result of the Sichuan earthquake talks were suspended but the exiled Tibetan leader is hopeful that they might restart in July because, as the he put, “stability and unity must come from the heart, not the gun.”
Contrary to Beijing’s accusations that he wants Tibet’s secession, the Dalai Lama has always insisted that his aim is to see Tibetans enjoy meaningful autonomy.
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