World Tibet Network News Sunday, June 21, 1998

HELSINKI, June 20 (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama vowed on Saturday to continue his non-violent struggle for autonomy for Tibet from China and he condemned even hunger strikes by frustrated Tibetans as a form of violence.

``Among the (Tibetan) refugee community, there have been hunger strikes unto death... In that case, when I visit them, I make it clear to them that I do not agree with their method,'' the Tibetan spiritual leader told a news conference in Helsinki.

``I believe that the hunger strike unto death is also a kind of violence,'' the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzi Gyatso, said. ``I am always against any form of violence.''

But he said he also understood the growing frustration among the Tibetan community opposed to Chinese rule of Tibet.

``For more than 40 years now, the situation in Tibet has been sometimes more lenient, sometimes more strict ... For a few years now, things have been getting worse and worse,'' he said.

The Dalai Lama was in Finland for a two-day visit to open an exhibition of Tibetan art and culture at Helsinki's Museum of Art and Design.

He met a handful of Finnish MPs and Minister of Culture Claes Andersson. The Finnish government as a whole has shunned contacts with the Dalai Lama to safeguard relations with China.

China took control of Tibet in 1950. The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since 1959.

``So certainly there are some indications of frustration among the Tibetan community there and also outside (Tibet),'' the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner said.

``I am telling these people, if you look only at the situation only inside Tibet, there are reasons to feel frustration, but if you look at a wider angle, there are more reasons and signs for hope,'' he said.

``Most importantly, among the Chinese, awareness about the real situation in Tibet is increasing.''

The Chinese government's primary concern is stability and unity, he said.

``Genuine stability and unity must come from human satisfaction - not from guns,'' the Dalai Lama said, adding that rule by guns would only achieve more resentment.

``Sooner or later, the central government will have to find a realistic and positive way to achieve a new stability and unity.

``Once the Tibet issue is handled wisely, it will immediately affect the image of China. It can be a very positive signal to the minds of the around 20 million Chinese in Taiwan,'' he said.

``That is very important for the question of reunification. So solving the Tibetan issue is very much in the interest of the people of China as a whole.''

The Dalai Lama, who heads an exile government in India, repeated his call for self-rule, and not full independence.

He reiterated that he would relinquish authority once Tibet gains autonomy, and that foreign affairs, defence and some other matters in which the Chinese had more experience and expertise would stay in the hands of the central government.

``But over the rest, such as education and the preservation of our culture and the things which Tibet can handle better, Tibetans should have full authority,'' he said. ``That is the meaning of self-rule.''

``I am not at all concerned about the preservation of the institution (of the Dalai Lama),'' he said.

He said his aim was first to establish an internal government in the form of an electoral college, charged with holding free elections within two years.

``I myself prefer a parliamentarian government,'' he said, adding that the regime should be secular.

``As soon as I gave handed over all my authority, I will no longer be a head of government and will not have any status. I want to be a simple Buddhist monk.''

The Dalai Lama said he was pleased that the United States government would raise the Tibetan issue when President Bill Clinton travels to China next week.

``Right from the beginning (Clinton) has shown concern about me personally and about Tibet...,'' he said.

He said his own exile government has had no formal contacts with China since August 1993, but maintained contacts through private channels.