By Sylvia A. Smith
WASHINGTON – Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., scolded Beijing on Monday for blaming the Dalai Lama for the anti-government violence in Tibet and urged Chinese officials to negotiate with the exiled spiritual leader.
“The Dalai Lama has sought to engage in meaningful dialogue with China and has the moral authority to implement a durable solution,” Lugar said in a statement released by his office.
Lugar, who meets with the Dalai Lama almost every year when the monk visits Washington, said he is a “man of peace” and that China is off base to blame him for the uprising in the Himalayan region. Lugar is the senior Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee.
Beijing has said the Dalai Lama and his supporters orchestrated protests in Lhasa, the capital city. The protests began three weeks ago when Tibetan Buddhist monks marched to commemorate a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. Violence erupted four days later.
“I am aware of no credible evidence that he encouraged or instigated the protests,” Lugar said.
Chinese officials have also said the Dalai Lama and the Buddhist monks are trying to undermine the Olympics, which will be in Beijing in August.
Lugar said it was a good sign that China has allowed a few foreign journalists into Lhasa even though they must work under “tightly controlled conditions.”
“I urge that China open up more fully to allow journalists, diplomats and other independent observers to judge whether, as has been alleged, Chinese authorities overreacted to the unacceptable incidents of looting, burning and attacks on individuals, and whether, as has been alleged, Chinese officials are detaining and lodging charges of violence against monks and others who were expressing their views peacefully, a right that is guaranteed under the Chinese constitution,” Lugar said.
Lugar said that “contrary to repeated Chinese assertions, (the Dalai Lama) has affirmed he does not favor an independent Tibet, but rather a Tibet with genuine autonomy as part of China.
sylviasmith@jg.net
