Date:21/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/21/stories/2008032155750100.htm

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China asks Dalai Lama to create conditions for talks

Beijing: China on Thursday asked the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, to undertake “a thorough review” of himself to create conditions for talks as it voiced “grave concern” over British Premier Gordon Brown’s planned meeting with him.

Mr. Brown telephoned his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao and spoke about the Lhasa riots which claimed 13 lives on Friday last.

The British Prime Minister, who plans to meet the Dalai Lama during his visit to the U.K. in May, said in London that he appealed to Mr. Wen to apply restraint in dealing with protests.

However, Beijing expressed “grave concern” over Mr. Brown’s plans to meet the Tibetan leader.

“During the conversation [with Mr. Brown)], Mr. Wen reiterated China’s position on the dialogue” that the Dalai Lama must abandon the “proposition of independence” of Tibet and cease his “separatist activities,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters here.

“It is only under these preconditions will the [Chinese] central government talk to him. It is only on that basis that the doors of the dialogue will be open,” he said.

Asked why China was reluctant to hold direct talks with the Dalai Lama despite his categorical statement that he was not for Tibet’s independence and speaking against the violence in Lhasa, Mr. Qin said: “We should not only listen to what he says but also pay attention to what he does.”

“We request the Dalai Lama to truly give up his proposition for Tibet independence and stop separatist activities to split the motherland,” he said. “He should undertake a thorough review of himself so as to create conditions for the dialogue.”

Mr. Qin said the Dalai Lama was a political exile engaged in “separatist activities in the guise of a religious leader” with the aim of “splitting” the motherland.

The violence in Lhasa was aimed at undermining the social stability and harming China’s sovereignty.

“Can looting, arson and smashing of properties be called peaceful? Can we tolerate them,” Mr. Qin asked. — PTI