New Delhi
11 March 2007
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has reminded China that a
"meaningful autonomy" was a "reasonable demand" and it should be put into place so
that the Tibetans can preserve their identity, culture and language. He said that the
Tibetan delegation was ready to continue the dialogue with the Chinese "anytime,
anywhere" but cautioned Beijing that the exile Tibetan administration was prepared to
carry forward its struggle "from generation to generation".
On the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day on March
10, the Dalai Lama on Saturday said, "It is true that the Chinese constitution guarantees
national regional autonomy to minority nationalities. The problem is that it is not
implemented fully".
He said, "[It] fails to serve its express purpose of preserving and protecting the distinct
identity, culture and language of the minority nationalities. What happens on the ground
is that large populations from the majority nationalities have spread in these minority
regions. Therefore, the minority nationalities, instead of being able to preserve their own
identity, culture and language, have no choice but to depend on the language and
customs of the majority nationality in their day-to-day lives. Consequently, there is a
danger of the languages and rich traditions of the minority nationalities becoming
gradually extinct."
The Dalai Lama explained that there was nothing wrong with infrastructural development
such as railway in itself. "However," he pointed out, "it is a source of deep concern that
ever since the railway line became operational, Tibet has seen a further increase in
Chinese population transfer, deterioration of its environment, misuse and pollution of its
water, and exploitation of its natural resources, all causing huge devastation to the land
and all those who inhabit it."
He said that it was the sacred duty of all Tibetans to continue the struggle "towards
fulfilling this reasonable demand". "No matter how long it takes, our courage and
determination shall remain unchanged until we fulfil our aspirations."
The spiritual leader of the Tibetans said that both positive and negative changes were
witnessed in year gone by. "On the one hand, the hardline position was intensified with a
campaign of vilification against us, and more disquietingly, heightened political
restriction and repression in Tibet. On the other hand, in China itself, we saw some
improvement with regard to the freedom of expression".
Since the resumption of direct contacts between the Tibetans and Chinese in 2002, the
Dalai Lama's representatives have conducted five rounds of comprehensive discussion
with the Chinese officials.
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