Shri
L K Advani and His Holiness the Dalai Lama light the inaugural lamp at
the opening of the 6th International Conference of Tibet support groups,
Nov. 5, 2010 Photo: Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL New Delhi, India, 5 November 2010 (By Tenzin Tsering, phayul.com) - Former deputy prime minister of India and current leader of opposition
in the Indian parliament’s lower house said that China should reach out
to His Holiness the Dalai Lama with the intention of “sincere and
genuine dialogue”. Shri Lal Krishna Advani was speaking at the opening
of the 6th International Conference of Tibet support groups in Surajkund
near the Indian capital. Referring to His Holiness, Advani, who was the
chief guest at the event further added that Beijing cannot have a more
“reasonable and a peace loving interlocutor than this living embodiment
of the teachings of the Buddha.” Recounting his meeting as the
head of the opposition party with the Chinese President Hu Jintao in
November 2006, Advani said he had expressed hope to that the Chinese
government would create conditions for the Dalai Lama to visit Tibet
before the 2008 Olympics. That, however, did not happen, he regretted. “I hope that good sense prevails among the leaders in China and hope that discussions and deliberations of this conclave are communicated to them so that more Chinese in Mainland China start seeing the justice of Tibet’s cause,” said Advani. The Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama thanked the participants for coming to the conference “voluntarily, on their own expenses to make some contribution regarding the solution of the Tibet problem.” The Tibetan leader said the Tibetan issue is not solely a political one, but one bearing many other aspects of issues which the people around the world have the right to talk about. “Many people say Tibet issue is about human rights
violation. But there are other aspects to the Tibetan problem,” said the
Dalai Lama, talking about environment, rivers, deforestation and the
Tibetan culture “which have nothing to do with politics”. His Holiness stressed that the Tibet issue is also about China’s genuine and good relationship with India and with the rest of the world and for China to make significant contribution at world affairs, trust from the rest of the world is very essential. He said some Chinese officials say that Tibetans are anti Chinese, “Never,” the Dalai Lama reiterated. “I
have met number of Chinese scholars over the last several years,
especially in the last two years. These educated and intelligent Chinese
with their strong cultural heritage, patriotism and love for their own
country have come to help us. This clearly shows that we are not anti
china and that ours is a just cause,” said the Tibetan leader. “One of their other accusations is that we are trying to internationalise the Tibet issue. I explain by saying that we have two hands. Our right hand which is more important is reached out to Beijing. But it remains empty. So naturally we should extend our left hand to those many people who are showing concern to Tibet. As soon as concrete result comes, then we will say bye and thank you to the left hand.” So, it is to think who is making the Tibet issue international, said the Dalai Lama. 
His
Holiness the Dalai Lama addresses the opening of the 6th International
Conference of Tibet support groups, Nov. 5, 2010 Photo: Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL The
Tibetan leader also said that “1.3 billion Chinese people have every
right to know the reality and 1.3 billion Chinese people also have the
ability to judge what is right, what is wrong.” The Tibetan leader
further said that president Hu Jintao’s emphasis on harmonious society
can be achieved through “trust and not means of force or censorship.” The Tibetan Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche paid “sincere tribute” to Tibet support groups, thanking them for turning the Tibetan movement into a longest running, most sustained and widespread movements in the world by mobilising the governments and parliaments around the world to speak up for the people of Tibet. Rinpoche also thanked Chinese
people who have expressed support for the Tibetan cause, and the
“Tibetan people's movement for our cultural survival”. Several other dignitaries including parliamentarians from other countries also spoke on the occasion and expressed their support to the Tibetan government’s pursuit for “genuine” autonomy. The three day conference that concludes Sunday is participated by around 250 members of Tibet Support Groups worldwide. The TSG consist of multi-faceted groups of experts and professionals in the fields of human rights, environment, development, culture and religion and among others. A meeting of representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is also expected to take place at the same venue after the conference. |
