“The door of dialogue still opens to the Dalai Lama so long as he gives up the position for ‘Tibet Independence’, and so long as he recognises Tibet and Taiwan as inalienable parts of the Chinese territory,” Premier Wen Jiabao said.
“We mean what we say. We need to watch what the Dalai Lama does. It is up to him,” Wen explained. Wen is the first top Chinese leader to speak on the most violent protests against Chinese rule in two decades.
‘Nothing but lies’
Earlier, Wen said Dalai Lama’s claims that he pursues peaceful dialogue and not Tibet independence were “nothing but lies”.
“We have ample facts and plenty of evidence to prove that the riots in Lhasa were organised... and incited by the Dalai clique,” Wen said.
The International community led by the US had pressed China, which has been rattled by the protests ahead of the Olympic games in August, to show restrain in handling the stir and start dialogue with the Dalai Lama. “We have really urged the Chinese over several years to find a way to talk with the Dalai Lama,” US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Tuesday.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said what the international community should ask about is precisely what role and function Dalai Lama played in this incident of criminal violence. “The one who should be tried and investigated is the Dalai Lama himself,” Qin said. “I feel at least he should be put under moral trial,” he added.
Moreover, Germany, Australia, France and UK have also made similar demands but have ruled out boycotting the Beijing Olympics. Though the UN has remained quiet and is unlikely to raise the issue as Beijing is a powerful veto wielding member, UN chief Ban Ki-moon has urged Beijing to avoid further confrontation.
Thirty held
Thirty Tibetan protesters were arrested after staging a demonstration near Lhasa in defiance of a region-wide security clampdown, an exiled Tibetan rights group said on Tuesday. A dozen Buddhist monks from the Dinka Monastery in Duilong Deqing County near Lhasa held the protest last evening and were joined residents.
India’s stand praised
China on Tuesday voiced its appreciation over India’s position on Tibet and the handling of the Tibetan “independence” activities “masterminded” by Dalai Lama.
“I hope the Indian government can follow the agreements reached between the two countries and handle this issue in a correct way,” Premier Wen said.
“The Tibet issue is sensitive in Sino-India relations, but the two sides have reached broad agreements,” Wen explained.
