November 20, 2008 Dalai
Lama Seeks India's Help
in Resolving Tibet Issue
Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh)
As hundreds of Tibetan leaders from across the world are discussing
the future course of their movement here, their spiritual guru, the
Dalai Lama, Thursday again hinted India could help resolve the vexed
Tibet issue.
"India and Tibet are having the relationship of a 'guru' and 'chela'
(teacher and disciple) and when 'chela' is in trouble, the 'guru'
must look after him," the Nobel Peace prize winner told reporters
with a smile.
He was speaking after attending a function organized by the Lions
Club here.
He refused to say anything on the relations of the exiled government
with China. "No comments," he said when asked about it.
The eighth round of talks between China and the exiled Tibetan
government failed earlier November after the Chinese side rejected a
memorandum submitted by the exiled government seeking autonomy for
Tibet under Chinese rule.
Observers here pointed out that the spiritual leader's comments came
in the wake of repeated failures of talks with the Chinese over the
five-decade-old issue.
The 73-year-old leader said this month during his visit to Japan
that "talks with the Chinese leadership over allowing more autonomy
for the Buddhist region in Tibet had so far failed".
"Things are not going well... I have to accept failure... my trust
with the Chinese leadership (is) now thinner, thinner, thinner," the
Tibetan leader had said.
However, Tenzin Taklha, a senior aide to the exiled leader, denied
that the government-in-exile, which is based in this north Indian
town in the Himalayas, had sought the help of the Indian government.
"He (the Dalai Lama) has never formally requested for any such
intervention by the Indian government... his statement of 'guru' and
'chela' is nothing new. On various occasions, he used to refer India
as 'guru'," he said.
He said the spiritual leader would address the Tibetans Nov 23, a
day after the conclusion of the special session.
Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama said he was deliberately keeping away from
the biggest meeting of Tibetan leaders here as he did not want to
influence their discussions.
"I have made it very clear that it is now up to the Tibetans. If I
mention something then that may have hampered their free expression.
Therefore, for the time being, I decided to remain complete silent,"
the 1989 Nobel Peace prize winner told reporters here on the
sidelines of a function.
The Nov 17-22 meeting of top Tibetan leaders has attracted nearly
600 delegates from all over the world. The meeting was called by the
exiled Tibetan Parliament at the instance of the Dalai Lama to
discuss and give suggestions for the future course to be adopted for
the struggle for Tibet.
Initially the ministers of the exiled Tibetan government here, which
is not recognized by any nation, had also wanted that they be
excused from attending sessions of the meeting as participants could
get influenced by their pro-government views. However, the ministers
were told to participate in the meeting and give their views
independently.
The Dalai Lama has travelled across the world to garner support for
"meaningful autonomy" for Tibet, promoting human values and teaching
Buddhism.
Beijing accuses the Nobel Peace Prize laureate as a trouble-making
separatist. But the spiritual leader says he wants to negotiate true
autonomy for the mountain region he fled in 1959, not outright
independence.
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