World Tibet Network News Wednesday, February 04, 1998

BEIJING, 4 Feb (AP) -- A veteran Chinese dissident urged the government Wednesday to stop criticizing the Dalai Lama and begin autonomy talks for Chinese-ruled Tibet.

Xu Wenli also appealed to Tibet's exiled spiritual leader to use his influence to persuade Tibetans to abandon efforts to gain independence for their homeland.

China accuses the Dalai Lama of using religion as a cover to seek full Tibetan independence; he insists he wants only self-rule for the Himalayan region's 6 million people.

In an appeal distributed to foreign media, Xu urged the government to recognize the Dalai Lama's uniquely persuasive role among Tibet's fervently Buddhist people.

"Stop all personal attacks against the Dalai Lama," Xu wrote. "Do not again and again pass up his well-intentioned appeals for peaceful negotiations."

Xu, who spent 12 years in prison for championing democracy, risks arrest for taking such an outspoken position on Tibet, one of the most sensitive issues for Chinese leaders.

Critics of Beijing's often harsh 48-year rule in Tibet accuse the Chinese of attempting to destroy its traditional culture and religion and of exploiting its forest and mineral wealth without sharing the proceeds.

Xu called on the Beijing government to respect the Tibetans' religious freedom, allow them to make Tibet a nuclear-free zone, protect its environment and seek Tibetan approval for all development projects and exploitation of natural resources.

"At the same time, we urge the Dalai Lama to seek the establishment of a peaceful, democratic Tibet," he wrote. "China could never accept a return to the old traditions of feudal rule there."

China staunchly defends its policies in Tibet, arguing that it has freed a people living virtually as slaves, raised standards of living and spent much money on preserving the indigenous culture.

Chinese troops entered Tibet in 1950. The Dalai Lama fled nine years later when an uprising against Chinese rule collapsed. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent campaign for Tibetan autonomy.