Dalai Lama raps China over Tibet issue, talks about retirement

Tokyo, Nov 3 (PTI) Describing the vexed Tibet issue as "hopeless," an anguished Dalai Lama Monday indicated that he may retire in view of the "failure" to realise his dream of securing "genuine autonomy" for his Himalayan homeland.

"I'm looking forward to complete retirement," the 73-
year-old saffron-clad Tibetan Buddhist leader said, as his
envoys were negotiating with Chinese officials in Beijing on
the Tibet issue.

"Some people tell me it's impossible the Dalai Lama
retire. I tell them my retirement is my human right," he said
while speaking to the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
here.

The 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who underwent a
surgery in New Delhi to remove gallstones last month, said the
situation in Tibet was worsening and that criticism among
Tibetans of his negotiating approach toward China was growing.

"Things are not improving inside Tibet," he said. "Our
approach failed to bring some positive changes inside Tibet.
So criticism is also increasing. So there's no other
alternative except to ask the people," he said.

The Dalai Lama Sunday said in Tokyo that his faith in the
Chinese government was "becoming thinner, thinner, thinner."

Last month, he said he had "given up" hopes of finding a
solution to the Tibet issue because there had been no positive
response in negotiations with Beijing.

Kasur Lodi Gyaltsen and Kelsang Gyaltsen, envoys of the
spiritual leader, arrived in Beijing last Thursday.

As for the approach to take in future negotiations with
China, the Dalai Lama said he will leave it to Tibetans to
decide and refrained from indicating his own view on the
matter so as to allow them to consider the matter without any
bias, Kyodo news agency reported.

"If I say I prefer this way, then that may become a
hindrance or obstacle to different opinions (and) feelings,
out of devotion. I don't want that...so therefore, I remain
completely silent," the Dalai Lama said.

He reiterated that Tibetans were not seeking separation
or independence from China but only "genuine autonomy."

China, which has ruled Tibet since the Red Army occupied
it in the 1950s, has repeatedly accused the Dalai Lama of
leading a campaign to split the Himalayan region from the rest
of the country.

Commenting on the emergency session of Tibetans that he
has summoned in Dharamsala from November 17, the Dalai Lama
said the meeting would discuss how to approach China to
resolve the Tibet issue.

While mixing in his trademark sense of humour in his
presentation, he noted that Chinese suppression on Tibet has
created a situation in which Tibetans born in India are "more
Tibetan" than young Tibetans who come from China-ruled Tibet
in terms of language and lifestyle.

"Whether intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of
cultural genocide is taking place," he said. "Not exactly
genocide, but something like cultural genocide, very subtly."

Although the Dalai Lama said he thought the Tibet issue
is "hopeless" locally and on the short term, he said the
matter is "still hopeful" when considering it from a wider
perspective as there are a growing number of Chinese who
realise that Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan culture are good
and useful.

"They understand what we're talking (about). So I think
(Chinese) Communist leaders should have more spiritual
mind...(rather than thinking only about) money, power, money,
power, money, power," he said.

The Dalai Lama said once there is change in the current
political situation caused by fear and ignorance, then a
"positive decision, positive agreement can be reached within a
few days." PTI AKJ