SYDNEY, Sept. 20, 1996 (Kyodo) -- By: Edwina Pitkethley

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama called on governments, religious leaders and the general public Friday to help the Tibetan people in their struggle against Chinese oppression.

''My main appeal is please help us to materialize meaningful negotiations with the Chinese government,'' he said. ''I am not seeking independence, I am seeking genuine self-rule. Whether you are called an autonomous region or autonomous state, in reality everything is controlled by the Chinese government which has no idea about Tibetan culture.

''I want to protect and save the Tibetan cultural heritage, and the best way to achieve that is through a political solution of genuine autonomy,'' he said. ''For that, the dialogue with the Chinese government is the only way.''

The exiled Tibetan leader is enjoying plenty of local media coverage of his two-week trip to Australia.

Despite warnings from China that the Dalai Lama's visit risked damage to trade relations, and mixed signals from his office, Prime Minister John Howard now seems likely to meet the visitor next week when he returns from Tokyo.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer had a private meeting with the Dalai Lama on his arrival in Australia last weekend. The Dalai Lama has also met with opposition leader Kim Beazley.

Speaking at a press conference in Sydney, the Dalai Lama conceded that since China had appointed a rival Panchen Lama over his own choice, he may well be the last Dalai Lama.

''That is possible,'' he said. ''When I die it is possible that the majority of Tibetans (will) feel that it is an institution no longer relevant to our culture.

''The institution of the Dalai Lama may die as time changes, but Buddhism will remain.''

The main reason for the visit to Australia is to lead a nine-day ''Kalachakra'' or Wheel of Time ceremony, a major, ages-old event in Tibetan Buddhist culture.

The Sydney staging will be the first time it has been held in the southern hemisphere.

Since being forced to leave Tibet after the Chinese invasion in 1959, the Dalai Lama has conducted Kalachakra in Mongolia, India, the United States, Switzerland, Spain and in the Himalayan foothills, attracting crowds of up to 100,000.

Recent figures show Buddhism has become the fastest-growing religion in Australia, although the Dalai Lama said some of it was ''a fad.''

''Human nature is always looking for something new,'' he said.

Submitted by TIBETAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN