Calling Premier Wen Jiabao’s “separatist” allegations against the Dalai Lama a misleading one, Tibetan PM asks China to “demonstrate its sincerity” in resolving Tibet issue
By Phurbu Thinley
Dharamsala, March 14: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s “separatist” allegations against the exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama were misleading, Prime Minister of the Tibet’s Government in exile said in a statement released on Saturday.
“On many occasions, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has reiterated that he is not seeking separation from the People’s Republic of China,” PM Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche said.
“The Chinese Premier’s allegations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama seeking separation is far from the truth,” the PM remarked.
“The international community is well aware of this fact and it does not need further clarification,” Prof. Rinpoche, who became the first directly-elected PM of the exile government in 2001 and currently running his second consecutive term in the office, added.
The Tibetan PM was responding to Chinese Premier’s comments made during a rare press conference on Friday in Beijing. Premier Wen reiterated the usual Chinese statement saying that the doors for negotiation were “always open” as long as the Dalai Lama renounces what Beijing describes as “separatism”.
Wen’s comments came at the end of a week that marked the 50th anniversary of a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule.
The Tibetan PM, while welcoming PRC leadership’s willingness to “continue contacts and consultations” with the Envoys of the Dalai Lama, expressed hope that “Beijing will demonstrate its sincerity in resolving the Tibetan problem.”
“His Holiness the Dalai Lama is always ready to engage with the Chinese leadership to find a mutually acceptable solution to the problems of the Tibetan people,” Prof. Rinpoche said.
Rinpoche asserted that the demands from the Tibetan side had already been presented to the PRC government in writing in the “Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People,” and accused the Premier Wen of somehow sidestepping the presence of the document.
“What His Holiness is seeking for the Tibetan people has already been presented to the PRC government in writing as a Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People by the Envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 31 October 2008 during the eighth round of talks,” Prof. Rinpoche noted.
“The Memorandum clearly outlines the aspirations of the Tibetan people strictly within the constitutional principles of the People’s Republic of China,” the PM said.
“Premier Wen Jiabao appears to be trying to avoid acknowledging this document by referring to some past statements of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” Rinpoche added.
The Dalai Lama says he is only seeking a “real and meaningful” autonomy for Tibetan people within China and opposes the use of violence.
Talks between the representatives of the Dalai Lama and Beijing came to a standoff after eight rounds of talks failed to bring out any positive outcome.
The memorandum presented by the Tibetan side during the eighth round of talks was met with China’s derision with Beijing blaming the Tibetan side of seeking “disguised independence”.
Even after categorically rejecting the memorandum, China still says it is sincere about the talks.
