World Tibet Network News Friday, March 13, 1998

BEIJING, March 13 (AFP) - The Dalai Lama is a "faithful tool" of international forces hostile to China which should complete its efforts to fight separatism, the China Daily on Friday, quoting a top Tibetan official.

"The Dalai Lama is the ringleader of a political clique seeking Tibet independence, a faithful tool of international forces that are hostile to China," Ginzom Gincainpuncog was quoted as telling the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

He also called Tibet's spiritual leader "the biggest obstacle to the establishment of a normal order of Tibetan Buddhism,"

Ginzom, vice chairman of the Tibet regional committee of the CPPCC, which is equivalent to the upper house of China's parliament, has also accused the exiled Dalai Lama of teaming up "with elments advocating 'Taiwan independence."

He called on the Beijing government to complete "unreserved efforts to safeguard national unity."

"Facts have shown that only in the embrace of the motherland and taking the socialist road can Tibet have a bright future," Ginzom said.

The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since 1959, accused China on Tuesday of conducting "cultural genocide" in Tibet.