ID :
30145
Fri, 11/14/2008 - 09:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/30145
The shortlink copeid
China asks India not to allow 'splittist' acts by Dalai Lama
Beijing, Nov 13 (PTI) As the Dalai Lama prepared to hold the biggest conclave of exiled Tibetans in nearly six decades in Dharamshala, China on Thursday asked India to honour its promise of not allowing any separatist activities from its soil against the Communist state.
Dismissing as meaningless the November 17-22 meeting of
exiled Tibetans at the seat of the Dalai Lama's Tibetan
government-in-exile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin
Gang said Beijing expects India to honour its promise not to
permit activities "aimed at splitting Chinese territory."
"The Indian government has made solemn commitments on
several occasions that (it) does not allow any activities on
its soil aimed at dividing (China)," Qin said.
"We hope that this commitment can be fulfilled," he said
while responding to a question on the upcoming meeting at a
biweekly press briefing.
In the wake of repeated failures to find a solution to
the vexed Tibet issue during talks with China, the 73-year-old
Dalai Lama has convened a six-day meeting to determine the
future direction of his quest for "genuine autonomy" for his
Himalayan homeland under Chinese sovereignty.
But Qin claimed the upcoming meeting was aimed at
achieving Tibet's independence from Chinese rule. "The Chinese
government is solemnly against any international activities
aimed at splitting China, he said.
"Any attempt to plan or be involved in this meeting
cannot represent the vast majority of the Tibetan people and
their attempt will get nowhere," he said.
The meeting called by the Dalai Lama is expected to
decide on the future of Tibet and floundering negotiations
with Beijing.
Great importance is being attached to the meeting as
this is only the third occasion after 1951 and 1959 that such
a conclave of Tibetans will be held.
The meeting of over 500 prominent exiled Tibetans will
take place in the backdrop of Beijing emphatically rejecting
every demand made by the Dalai Lama.
"We will never make a concession," a senior Chinese
official had asserted on Monday while blaming the Dalai Lama
for the failure of the eighth round of talks between the two
sides on the Tibet issue here.
"Our contacts and talks failed to make progress and
they should assume full responsibility for it," Zhu Weiqun, a
vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the
ruling Communist Party of China (C.P.C.), said.
The Dalai Lama had suggested recently that his "middle
way" for Tibet, which was short of formal independence, was
failing.
The futile talks between the two sides since 2002 have
reportedly angered the Tibetan exiles who are seeking
independence for Tibet contrary to the Dalai Lama's idea of
"genuine autonomy" under Chinese sovereignty.
The Dalai Lama fled Tibet following a failed 1959
uprising against the Chinese rule in his Himalayan homeland.
Fresh violence erupted in the Tibetan capital Lhasa on
March 14 this year against the Chinese rule and spread to
other areas of western China.
China had accused the Dalai Lama of instigating anti-
Beijing riots in Tibet and other areas, a charge he has
rejected. PTI AKJ
SAK
Dismissing as meaningless the November 17-22 meeting of
exiled Tibetans at the seat of the Dalai Lama's Tibetan
government-in-exile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin
Gang said Beijing expects India to honour its promise not to
permit activities "aimed at splitting Chinese territory."
"The Indian government has made solemn commitments on
several occasions that (it) does not allow any activities on
its soil aimed at dividing (China)," Qin said.
"We hope that this commitment can be fulfilled," he said
while responding to a question on the upcoming meeting at a
biweekly press briefing.
In the wake of repeated failures to find a solution to
the vexed Tibet issue during talks with China, the 73-year-old
Dalai Lama has convened a six-day meeting to determine the
future direction of his quest for "genuine autonomy" for his
Himalayan homeland under Chinese sovereignty.
But Qin claimed the upcoming meeting was aimed at
achieving Tibet's independence from Chinese rule. "The Chinese
government is solemnly against any international activities
aimed at splitting China, he said.
"Any attempt to plan or be involved in this meeting
cannot represent the vast majority of the Tibetan people and
their attempt will get nowhere," he said.
The meeting called by the Dalai Lama is expected to
decide on the future of Tibet and floundering negotiations
with Beijing.
Great importance is being attached to the meeting as
this is only the third occasion after 1951 and 1959 that such
a conclave of Tibetans will be held.
The meeting of over 500 prominent exiled Tibetans will
take place in the backdrop of Beijing emphatically rejecting
every demand made by the Dalai Lama.
"We will never make a concession," a senior Chinese
official had asserted on Monday while blaming the Dalai Lama
for the failure of the eighth round of talks between the two
sides on the Tibet issue here.
"Our contacts and talks failed to make progress and
they should assume full responsibility for it," Zhu Weiqun, a
vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the
ruling Communist Party of China (C.P.C.), said.
The Dalai Lama had suggested recently that his "middle
way" for Tibet, which was short of formal independence, was
failing.
The futile talks between the two sides since 2002 have
reportedly angered the Tibetan exiles who are seeking
independence for Tibet contrary to the Dalai Lama's idea of
"genuine autonomy" under Chinese sovereignty.
The Dalai Lama fled Tibet following a failed 1959
uprising against the Chinese rule in his Himalayan homeland.
Fresh violence erupted in the Tibetan capital Lhasa on
March 14 this year against the Chinese rule and spread to
other areas of western China.
China had accused the Dalai Lama of instigating anti-
Beijing riots in Tibet and other areas, a charge he has
rejected. PTI AKJ
SAK
