Date:24/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/24/stories/2008032460390100.htm

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India’s position is clear and consistent: China

Not opposed to Olympic Games, says Dalai Lama

Beijing: Irked by top U.S. lawmakers hobnobbing with the Dalai Lama in its backyard, China on Sunday said that India’s position on Tibet has not changed.

India, which maintains that Tibet is an internal issue of China, has assured Beijing that its position on Tibet “is clear and consistent” and it would not change in the future, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

New Delhi also clarified that Vice-President Hamid Ansari had no plans to meet the Dalai Lama, leader of the Tibetan government in exile in Dharamsala, following a “rumour” about such a meeting, he said. “The Indian side has clarified to China on the relevant rumour, saying there’s no such plan,” Mr. Qin said. Bejing has said that 19 people died in the violence.

Xinhua news agency reported that 94 people had been injured from March 14 to 19 in violent clashes in Gansu province, including 64 police officers, 27 paramilitary police, two government officials and a civilian. This brings to more than 700 the number of people injured in the recent unrest. — PTI

‘Baseless’ charges

New Delhi Special Correspondent reports:

The Dalai Lama on Sunday clarified that he was not opposed to the Olympic Games being held in Beijing later this year. “I have always supported that Olympic Games should take place in China,” he told journalists two days after his followers forcibly entered the compound of the Chinese Embassy here and displayed placards urging boycott of the Games.

The Dalai Lama described as “baseless” accusations by the Chinese leadership that the recent unrest in Tibet was aimed at sabotaging the Games. He arrived here on Friday to hold a meditation workshop soon after meeting the powerful Democratic Party leader and Speaker of the U.S. Congress Nancy Pelosi in Dharamsala, the “seat” of his ``government-in-exile.”

Tibetan protesters had transgressed into the compound of the Chinese embassy around the time he landed here in a chartered aircraft after meeting Ms. Pelosi.

China has assailed the meeting between Ms. Pelosi and the Dalai Lama, saying that her actions amounted to interference in China’s internal affairs. “Very clearly and firmly we oppose any country, organisation and persons interfering in China’s internal affairs. We have stated very clearly that Tibet is China’s internal affair and we don’t allow any country to meddle in it. We hope any person having a clear understanding on the incidents will not take any irresponsible action or words,” Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan had said.