World Tibet Network News Monday, March 02, 1998

(Xinhua is the official news agency of the People's Republic of China)

03/02/98

THE Dalai Lama has never sought genuine talks with the Central government of China in the last 10 years, according to an article appearing in the latest issue of the journal China's Tibet.

The 14th Dalai Lama suspended his contact with the central government when he thought the international situation was in his favour. However, he demanded negotiations when he thought the situation was moving against him, the bimonthly journal commented recently.

According to the latest edition of China's Tibet, the 14th Dalai Lama publicly repeated during his meetings with overseas media and statesmen recently that he wanted to negotiate. However, the commentary said, he failed to reveal his standpoint to the central government.

In his state visit to the United States last November, Chinese President Jiang Zemin said, "The central government is willing to negotiate with the Dalai Lama so long as he genuinely relinquishes his stand for "Tibetan independence," stops working to split the motherland, publicly states that Tibet is an inseparable part of China, and admits that the central government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate representative of the whole people of China."

The Chinese central government has negotiated with the 14th Dalai Lama since 1979. The commentary focused on their contacts in the years since 1989.

When the 10th Panchen Erdeni died of a heart attack on January 28, 1989 the Buddhist Association of China (BAC) wrote to the 14th Dalai Lama inviting him to return for the memorial activities. In addition, BAC President Zhao Puchu personally delivered the letter to the 14th Dalai Lama's private representative and sincerely invited him to come back.

But the 14th Dalai Lama refused the invitation. "If the 14th Dalai Lama had any intention to contact the central government, this was a perfect opportunity," the magazine commented.

In 1989, the 14th Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He misjudged the political situation then and began predicting that China, after the political turmoil in June 1989, was highly likely to collapse like the Soviet Union in three to five years.

He said the Chinese Government was unstable, so there was no need to negotiate with it then, the commentary said.

At a press conference after the award ceremony, the 14th Dalai Lama said, "My winning this prize is good for the realization of an independent Tibet," the commentary quoted him as saying.

Against his expectations, China has remained stable and its economy is developing. In view of this, the 14th Dalai Lama then proposed resuming contacts with the central government.

In an interview with Xinhua in May 1991, on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet, Chinese Premier Li Peng painted a rosy picture when asked about the government's future plans for the economic and social development of Tibet.

"In the future, the central government will, as always, seek economic and cultural development in Tibet, adopt more policies to improve the life of the Tibetans, continue to mobilize people of all nationalities in China to aid Tibet, and give full support to Tibet's effort to implement the Eighth Five-Year Plan and the 10-Year Development Programme," Premier Li was quoted as saying.

"The State Council has earmarked 1 billion yuan (US$24120 million) over a 10-year period to undertake comprehensive development of the Three-River Valley area in Tibet. The Yamzhog Yumco Pump Storage Power Station, expansion of airports and roads, and some other energy and communication projects have been listed as major State projects. This is aimed at enabling Tibet to be like other parts of China in building socialism with Chinese characteristics and working for joint development," Li said.

When asked whether the government had changed its policy towards the 14th Dalai Lama, the premier said it had always been consistent and unchanged.

"We have one fundamental principle, which is that Tibet is an inalienable part of China. This brooks no bargaining. The central government is willing to talk to the Dalai Lama, but he must stop carrying out activities aimed at splitting the motherland and change his stand for "Tibetan independence". Everything is negotiable except for "Tibetan independence", Li said.

The central government has ventured to contact private delegates of the 14th Dalai Lama since the beginning of the 1980s. It tried to contact him again in 1992 and 1993, but he unilaterally suspended further contacts on the excuse that the central government held a rigid attitude.

On April 29, 1994 the People's Daily carried a statement made by a spokesman with the CPC United Front Work Department during an interview with Xinhua.

"Both sides failed to reach agreement on the fact that "Tibet is an inalienable part of China". The 14th Dalai Lama called this fundamental principle a "precondition and obstacle to negotiations", the spokesman said.

"This fundamental principle is by no means either a precondition or an obstacle. On the contrary, it is the basis for negotiations and the surest guarantee for their success. This is what the 14th Dalai Lama calls the `rigid attitude' of the central government," he said.

In 1995, the reincarnation procedures for the late 10th Panchen Erdeni entered its decisive stage after efforts in the previous six years. At the time when lamas with the Tashilhungpo Monastery were considering the soul boy candidates located, the 14th Dalai Lama suddenly announced in India that a Tibetan child was the reincarnated soul boy, the commentary said.

He did so to oppose the central government, which enjoys the highest authority in confirming the soul boy. As a self-styled religious leader, however, the 14th Dalai Lama defied religious rituals needed for confirmation of a soul boy as well as historical precedents. He did so to serve his political aim of splitting the motherland.

Years ago, the 14th Dalai Lama left no stone unturned to gain the removal of a statue of a Buddhist guardian. This touched off public discontent among Tibetans residing outside China. Many asked: Since the 14th Dalai Lama styles himself to be the "all-knowing God of Mercy," for what reason is he against the statue of a Buddhist guardian?

As a matter of fact, this was merely a political ploy, the commentary said.

In March 1997, when the 14th Dalai Lama planned to visit Taiwan, the central

government managed to inform him of its stand and principle and wished he

give up contacts with "Taiwanese independence" forces. But he turned a deaf

ear to this advice, the commentary said.

In previous contacts, the central government repeatedly stressed that it was

willing to negotiate so long as the 14th Dalai Lama can genuinely relinquish

his stand for "Tibetan independence," stop working to split the motherland, publicly state that Tibet is an inalienable part of China, and admit that the central government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representative of the whole people of China.

In response, the 14th Dalai Lama made proposals and suggestions for the "settlement of the Tibetan issue." These include special treatment as enjoyed by Hong Kong and Taiwan and establishment of the so-called "great Tibet autonomous region" encompassing Tibet, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan.

Recently, he also proposed "a high degree of autonomy" for Tibet, which appears to be his way of showing that he has given up the idea of independence, the commentary said.

But a thorough study of the proposal shows he has changed his tactics by taking two steps rather than one towards "Tibetan independence." As the first step, he is striving to win "a high degree of autonomy," to be followed by "Tibetan independence."

This analysis is correct because the 14th Dalai Lama and his clique have never given up their efforts to split the motherland. In the 1960s and 1970s, with the aid and support of international anti-China forces, they conducted military harassment in border areas. In the late 1980s, they incited riots in Lhasa. In recent years, the 14th Dalai Lama travelled here and there to preach the goal of "Tibetan independence."

But the 14th Dalai Lama has his own worries, the commentary mentioned.

China enjoys a stable situation and rapid economic growth. Its international status has been enhanced and its political influence expanded. It has improved its relations with the United States, and some countries in the European Union have readjusted their policies towards China. Under this situation, the 14th Dalai Lama worries that his interests will be neglected.

In addition, people in Tibet enjoy a better life, and most of them yearn for prolonged stability. Hence, the Tibetan separatists find it hard to incite riots to force the central government to make further concessions.

Furthermore, Tibetans residing abroad are locked in an increasingly sharpening conflict. While the 14th Dalai Lama wants to tighten control of them, they fight to free themselves from his control.

These developments force the 14th Dalai Lama to readjust his policy. While he

works to mislead public opinion, public opinion and his supporters are sometimes misleading him, the commentary said.