|
ˇ@
Hopes of a compromise in PRC-Tibet talks
appear dim
AGENDA: While the Dalai Lamaˇ¦s emissaries expressed hope
that Beijing would reconsider a proposal on greater autonomy, Chinese officials
showed little sign of giving in
AP, BEIJING
Thursday, Jan 28, 2010, Page 5
Emissaries for the exiled Dalai Lama and China showed little public sign of
compromise as they prepared yesterday for their first talks in more than a year
on restive Chinese-ruled Tibet.
The Dalai Lamaˇ¦s two envoys will reopen the long-stalled negotiations with
senior Communist Party officials on Saturday, the Tibetan government-in-exile
said.
Ahead of the meeting, the exiled government said it hoped Beijing would
reconsider a proposal to give Tibet and other Tibetan communities greater
autonomy. Chinese officials rejected that proposal at the last meeting 15 months
ago.
On Tuesday, Chinese government and party officials wavered little, saying
Chinaˇ¦s policy on the Dalai Lama has been ˇ§consistent and clearˇ¨ and that it
hoped the Tibetan spiritual leader would respond positively to Beijingˇ¦s
requests.
Two envoys of the Dalai Lama arrived in China on Tuesday to resume talks on
Tibet after the lengthy deadlock, said Chhime R. Chhoekyapa, the Dalai Lamaˇ¦s
secretary. The resumed talks came as a surprise after the acrimony and
uncertainty that followed the last meeting in November 2008.
Chinese officials then refused to discuss the status of Tibet and insisted that
they would only address the return of the Dalai Lama, who fled to exile in India
in 1959.
At the last talks, the Dalai Lamaˇ¦s envoys proposed a way for Tibetans to
achieve more autonomy within the framework of the Chinese Constitution ˇX a key
demand of the minority community. But China apparently rejected the plan, saying
it would not allow Tibet the kind of latitude granted to the territories of Hong
Kong and Macau.
It was not clear why the discussions had resumed, but the Tibetan
government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India, said yesterday it hoped the two sides
would be able to revisit the proposal for greater autonomy. The Dalai Lamaˇ¦s
office said on Monday the decision to send envoys Lodi Gyari and Kelsang
Gyaltsen was made at the end of last week.
Beijing told the Dalai Lama on Tuesday to make the best of the talks, but
publicly showed no sign of easing its hardline stance on their disagreements.
ˇ@
|
