Calgary Herald News Services

Published: Monday, November 03, 2008

Chinese rule is handing down a "death sentence" to Tibetans, the Dalai 
Lama said Sunday, ahead of a meeting to decide Tibet's future approach 
to Beijing.

The region's exiled leader is on a week-long visit to Japan for talks 
on spirituality as the eighth round of talks between his envoys and 
Chinese officials was set to begin, and just days after he said he had 
lost hope of any productive dialogue with Beijing.

"Tibetans are being handed down a death sentence. This ancient nation, 
with an ancient cultural heritage, is dying," he said.

"Today, the situation is almost like a military occupation in the 
entire Tibetan area.

"It is like we're under martial law. Fear, terror and lots of 
political education are causing a lot of grievance," he added.

The 73-year old Nobel Peace laureate said he was "semi-retiring" 
because of stalled talks with Beijing, and said he would convene a 
meeting on November 17 to discuss Tibet's approach to dealing with 
China.