20100311 PRC killing Buddhism: Dalai Lama

PRC killing Buddhism: Dalai Lama

AP, DHARMSALA, INDIA
Thursday, Mar 11, 2010, Page 1

The Dalai Lama blasted Chinese authorities yesterday, accusing them of trying to “annihilate Buddhism” in Tibet as he commemorated the 51st anniversary of failed uprising against China’s rule over the region.

The Tibetan spiritual leader’s angry comments appeared to signal his frustration with fruitless efforts to negotiate a compromise with China. However, he said he would not abandon talks.

Beijing fought back, accusing the Dalai Lama of using deception and lies to distort Beijing’s policy toward Tibet.

Chinese authorities have accused the Dalai Lama of wanting independence for Tibet.

He says he only wants some form of autonomy for Tibet within China that would allow Tibetan culture, language and religion to thrive.

In his annual address from exile in India to mark the anniversary of the uprising, the Dalai Lama said Chinese authorities were conducting a campaign of “patriotic re-education” in monasteries in Tibet.

“They are putting the monks and nuns in prison-like conditions, depriving them the opportunity to study and practice in peace,” he said, accusing Chinese of working to “deliberately annihilate Buddhism.”

The Tibetan leader said that “whether the Chinese government acknowledges it or not, there is a serious problem in Tibet,” but attempts to talk to the Chinese leadership about granting limited autonomy to Tibetans had gone nowhere.

“Judging by the attitude of the present Chinese leadership, there is little hope that a result will be achieved soon,” he said.

“Nevertheless, our stand to continue with the dialogue remains unchanged,” he said in his speech, which was made in Tibetan.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not have immediate comment on the Dalai Lama’s accusations.

Xinhua news agency, however, published a harsh commentary, rejecting the Dalai Lama’s calls for Tibetan autonomy as “a sham.”

It mocked his claims about the oppression of Tibetan Buddhism as distortions rooted in ignorance, telling him to “do some basic research and find out some truth about Tibet before pointing his finger.”