Dalai Lama’s kin visits China

DHARAMSALA, Dec 4 — The significant meeting between a brother of the Dalai Lama and Chinese officials in Beijing recently has opened the channel of communication between the spiritual leader and the Communist regime, as the exiled government eagerly awaits a response from China for sending its delegation for an early solution of the Tibet issue.

Talking to mediapersons at a press meet on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s assumption of state responsibility, the Tibetan spiritual leader said that though it was a good opportunity to open dialogue with China, it was too early to say whether it was the beginning of the “unfreezing” of relations with China.

“It is a different matter whether the talks progress or not, but it is essential that ideas are exchanged as the incorrect impression being created in each other’s mind prove to be major obstacles in finding an early solution to the Tibetan problem”, he opined. He disclosed that after receiving some indications from China, his brother visited Beijing to hold talks with the officials.

The Tibetan leader refused to divulge the details of the message brought back by his brother, saying that it was not wise to discuss the issue in public. “We have sent a request to China to allow a delegation from here to visit Beijing, as I strongly feel that sending personal messages in the form of letters or memos, is a better way, to tackle the situation”, he revealed. He hastened to add that if some concrete results came out of the talks, they would be before the world.

The Dalai Lama, said that it was essential to explain to China the viewpoint of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, since his stand of the “middle path way” still remained.

Great significance is being attached to the visit of Dalai Lama’s brother to China as official contact with China, through its embassy, was completely snapped in August, 1993. “Though some informal channels had been developed after the visit of the American President, Bill Clinton, since November, 1998, relations had once again freezed,” he disclosed.

When asked about the reasons for the cancellation of his trip to Taiwan, he said that after the visit of his brother to China, he felt that this was a very crucial and sensitive stage, so he decided to visit Taiwan at some later stage.”

The Dalai Lama said that though China had emerged as a powerful country, to gain moral authority, it needed to improve its human rights record, religious repression and its policy regarding Tibet and some minorities.”

Talking about the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, he said that even 11 months after his arrival in India, a decision had not been taken on his status. “Since he is the reincarnation of the 16th Karmapa, logically he should be allowed to go to the Kagyu seat at the Rumpek Monastery in Sikkim,” he said. He said that apart from sending a formal request to the Indian Government, he had met people in the Delhi, to decide the status of the Karmapa.

The Dalai Lama said that he had made up his mind that he would not play any role in the future government of Tibet and even the institution of the Dalai Lama would end.