Published by: World Tibet Network News, Saturdsay, August 3, 1996

DALAI LAMA RECEIVES MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE PEACE AWARD TLSDL

LOS ANGELES (AP) August 2, 1996-- Greeted with reverent bows by hundreds of well-wishers, the Dalai Lama toured the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance Friday and was presented with the museum's 1996 Peace Award.

On the last day of the Tibetan spiritual leader's five-day tour of California, more than 400 people packed into the center's auditorium to hear him speak.

``It was a very special event,'' said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the center. ``We had such a turnout, we had to keep people outside.''

During the Dalai Lama's award acceptance speech, which was made first in Tibetan and then in English, he talked about family, education, world events -- and didn't forget to make jokes.

``The Jewish people never gave up their hope, their determination...they kept their traditions very alive,'' he said, referring to the Jewish search for a homeland.

``So since then we're always trying to steal your secret,'' he said, as the audience burst into laughter.

The Dalai Lama, who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, has been in self-exile since 1959 when communist Chinese troops invaded Tibet. He now lives in India and spends much of his time traveling and advocating the non-violent liberation of Tibet.

Present at the event were several celebrities including actors Pierce Brosnan and Richard Gere, state Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Los Angeles, and Assembly Democratic Leader Richard Katz.

The Museum of Tolerance Peace Award was established in 1995. Its first recipient was King Hussein of Jordan.