Dalai Lama Sees End To Chinese Occupation of Tibet
(Canberra | May 24, 2002)
The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said Friday that China and Tibet would eventually reach a mutually agreed solution to China's occupation of his Himalayan homeland. The Dalai Lama, speaking at a reception here, said international support was influencing views inside China.
He said he considered his visit to Australia's Parliament House here very important — despite the Australian government vetoing his National Press Club lunch being held in Parliament's Great Hall. "On behalf of the Tibetan people certainly it is my duty to express my deep appreciation for what you express to me, your concern about Tibetan problems," he said.
"In spite of some sorts of declarations from the Chinese government side, and in some cases the Tibetan situation is worsening, in spite of that, my stand, no change, I am fully committed."
"I believe sooner or later some mutually acceptable solution (to the Tibetan question) has to be found," he said. "One good thing is the amount of Chinese, some intellectuals, and even some officials privately say they support my approach, but the official line, still they say, 'not yet, not today'. "But there is more and more support within the Chinese community, not only outside but also inside.
"Certainly the international community's support, your expression of concern and support, is certainly I think is one of the major factors to open their minds.
"When a genuinely mutually satisfactory solution is found then you can take a rest." The Dalai Lama also urged Australians to use a visit by the Communist Party boss of Chinese-ruled Tibet next month to push for information on human rights in his homeland.
He said journalists should use the visit by Governor Guo Jinglang to question him on human rights and ask for an invitation to travel to Tibet for a first hand look.
"Talk and meet. That's important," he said. "Then ask 'please send us an invitation'. "(Say) you want to go to Tibet and see by yourself, so ask him for invitation," he said.
He said journalists in a free society had an important duty.
"I often suggested to the media people that you should have a long nose, as long as an elephant's nose, and it should smell everywhere ... whether a religious person, whether a politician," the Dalai Lama said.
The Dalai Lama was in Australia while Prime Minister John Howard was away meeting Chinese officials in Beijing. Asked what he thought of the timing of Howard's absence, he paused momentarily before saying: "Nothing".
"The reason is, the nature of my visit here is not political," he added.
A top government official admitted on Tuesday Australia's political leaders had been warned off meeting the Dalai Lama for fear of angering China. Alan Thomas, deputy secretary of the Foreign Affairs Department, told a Senate hearing that Chinese claims that Australia had given an undertaking there be no official contact with the Tibetan leader were correct.
The 14th Dalai Lama, 66-year-old Tenzin Gyatso, began his fourth visit to Australia on Sunday. Howard, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and even opposition Labor leader Simon Crean have all said they will not meet him.
Friends of Tibet (INDIA),
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www.friendsoftibet.org