Dharamsala, March 9, 1995. According to AFP, "The Dalai Lama denounced China's occupation of Tibet, and appealed for a referendum among Tibetans to decide the future course of their campaign for independence. The Dalai Lama also warned in a statement released for the 36th anniversary of the failed March 10, 1959 uprising in his homeland that Beijing's failure to negotiate with him might lead to violence in Tibet. The Dalai Lama accused the Chinese government of stepping up its repression in Tibet and of rejecting his repeated attempts to bring about a negotiated and peaceful settlement of the Tibetan question. The Tibetan leader, said many Tibetans were critical of his diplomatic approach towards China and that the time had come to decide the future struggle by a referendum. 'The referendum should seek to clarify the political course of our struggle', he said in a three-page statement released from his home in the hill town of Dharamsala. 'I realise that under the present conditions it would be impossible

to hold a fair referendum inside Tibet', he added. 'Nevertheless, we will be able to find ways to collect representative opinions from different parts of Tibet and to conduct the plebiscite properly among our exiled community'. The statement did not indicate when the referendum would be held. But the Dalai Lama said, 'while we prepare ourselves for this referendum, I also wish to state that I remain open to any Chinese overtures for negotiations. Our negotiating team remains ready to resume talks any time at a mutually agreeable venue. Sooner or later, a flexible and open-minded Chinese leadership must realise the wisdom of resolving the issue of Tibet through negotiations in a spirit of reconciliation and compromise', the statement said."