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Dalai Lama urges Chinese contacts Dalai Lama urges Chinese contacts
(40 minutes later)
The Dalai Lama has called on Tibetan exiles to improve their contacts with ordinary Chinese people as they press for autonomy from Beijing. The Dalai Lama has urged his fellow Tibetan exiles in India to improve contacts with ordinary Chinese people, saying he has always had faith in them.
He welcomed a decision by exiles meeting in India to back his policy of seeking autonomy, rather than full independence, from China. By contrast, he argued, the Chinese government remained repressive in Tibet and he warned of "great danger" if the exiles did not exercise caution.
Total independence was "not practicable", he told the meeting in Dharamsala, India. He welcomed a decision by exiles to back his policy of autonomy, rather than independence, from China.
The veteran leader, 73, also sought to end rumours he was planning to retire.The veteran leader, 73, also sought to end rumours he was planning to retire.
Speaking to exiles in the Himalayan town from which he has led the Tibetan cause for nearly 50 years, he said: "My faith in the Chinese people has never been shaken". Speaking to exiles in the Himalayan town of Dharamsala, from which he has led the Tibetan cause for nearly 50 years, he said: "My faith in the Chinese people has never been shaken".
TIBET DIVIDE China says Tibet was always part of its territoryTibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th centuryIn 1950, China launched a military assaultOpposition to Chinese rule led to a bloody uprising in 1959Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to IndiaDalai Lama now advocates a "middle way" with Beijing, seeking autonomy but not full independence class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/guides/456900/456954/html/default.stm">In depth: Guide to Tibet He said China was changing and the Tibetan movement should seek to take advantage of that.
But his faith in the Chinese government, he added, was "getting thinner", and he accused them of using "fear and ruthless suppression" to control Tibet.But his faith in the Chinese government, he added, was "getting thinner", and he accused them of using "fear and ruthless suppression" to control Tibet.
''If we're not careful in our actions over the next 20 years, [they could] lead to great danger,'' he said.
Other options
Although Tibet has enjoyed long periods of autonomy or self-rule, China maintains that it has always been an integral part of its territory.Although Tibet has enjoyed long periods of autonomy or self-rule, China maintains that it has always been an integral part of its territory.
TIBET DIVIDE China says Tibet was always part of its territoryTibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th centuryIn 1950, China launched a military assaultOpposition to Chinese rule led to a bloody uprising in 1959Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to IndiaDalai Lama now advocates a "middle way" with Beijing, seeking autonomy but not full independence In depth: Guide to Tibet
Chinese Communist forces invaded Tibet in 1950 and have ruled there ever since.Chinese Communist forces invaded Tibet in 1950 and have ruled there ever since.
Under the Dalai Lama's so-called "Middle Way" approach, Tibetans would essentially stop pushing for the re-establishment of Tibet as an independent nation.Under the Dalai Lama's so-called "Middle Way" approach, Tibetans would essentially stop pushing for the re-establishment of Tibet as an independent nation.
"[The] majority of views have come up supporting the Middle Way path to the Tibetan issue... which is right," he told the exiles. Total independence was "not practicable", he told the meeting in Dharamsala, India.
"[The] majority of views have come up supporting the Middle Way path to the Tibetan issue... which is right," he said.
The Dalai Lama, who was treated in hospital with abdominal pains earlier this year, said of himself:The Dalai Lama, who was treated in hospital with abdominal pains earlier this year, said of himself:
"There is no point, or question of retirement," he said."There is no point, or question of retirement," he said.
He was speaking after a week-long meeting concluded that if China makes no effort to meet the Dalai Lama's demands then other options, including calls for independence and self-determination, would be put forward. He was speaking after a week-long meeting of representatives of the Tibetan movement concluded that if China made no effort to meet the Dalai Lama's demands, then other options, including calls for independence and self-determination, would be put forward.
Delegates also suggested that the Dalai Lama's envoy should not return to China unless attitudes change in Beijing. Delegates also suggested that the Dalai Lama's envoy should not return to China unless attitudes changed in Beijing.
China's authorities in Tibet made clear in recent days that they believed the exiles were still bent on independence.
"The so-called 'Middle Way' is a naked expression of 'Tibetan independence' aimed at nakedly spreading the despicable plot of opposing the tide of history," said an editorial in the official Tibet Daily newspaper on Friday.