Published by: World Tibet Network News, Wednesday, May 1, 1996

"Herald Sun" (Melbourne) May 1

China today issued a warning to Australia that it was opposed to

the Dalai Lama's forthcoming visit here, saying it was gravely

concerned by any nation giving him a forum for his attempts to

split China.

The Dalai Lama, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning religious leader of

Tibetan Buddhists who is in exile in India, will make a 15-day

visit to Australia in September.

His visit comes at the invitation of the Foundation for the

Preservation of Mahayana Tradition, but the Australia Tibet

Council expects he will also meet political leaders, possibly

Prime Minister John Howard.

The council indicated there was no doubt the 61-year-old Dalai

Lama, who met prime minister Paul Keating and foreign minister

Gareth Evans while in Australia in 1992, would discuss Tibet's

political situation while in Australia.

The Chinese Government, every wary of moves it perceives are aimed

at Tibetan independence, warned that it was opposed to the Dalai

Lama travelling the world to boost the independence cause and meet

foreign officials.

"We are opposed to any foreign coutnries inviting Dalai Lama to

visit there, and are opposed to meetings between Dalai Lama and

official figures of any country in any form," Foreign Ministry

spokesman shen Guofeng said.

"We hope that countries friendly to China will not provide a venue

for the Dalai's political activity to split China.

"Tibetan affairs are purely the internal affair of China, which

brooks no interference from any foreign country or organisations,

or individuals."

Australian Foreign Affairs sources said Australia officials were

likely to receive the Dalai Lama as a religious figurehead and, if

the subject of independence was raised, would restate Australia's

official position that Tibet was a part of China.

Australia Tibet Council executive member Paul Bourke said it was

envisaged the Dalai Lama would meet politicians and raise the

Tibetan situation.

"There's no question he'll be talking about the Tibet situation

and looking for help and ways to improve it," Mr Bourke said.

The Dalai Lama will spend two days each in Melbourne and Canberra,

and 10 in Sydney.