Tutu urges China to change attitude about the Dalai Lama

SABC News, South Africa
March 25, 2008

Archbishop Desmond Tutu says China must stop vilifying the Tibetan
spiritual leader - the Dalai Lama. Tutu says he stands in solidarity
with the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet as they defined
non-violence, compassion and goodness.

He has urged China to enter into a substantive and meaningful dialogue
with the Dalai Lama. Since early this year, Tibetans in central Asia
have staged protests targeting the Olympic games to be held in China
later in the year.

Tibetans are demanding independence
They are demanding independence and recognition of Tibet as an
independent state. Tutu says the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights, Louise Arbour, should visit Tibet and report to the
international community.

Meanwhile Chinese police have arrested five Tibetans allegedly involved
in deadly arson attacks in Lhasa as calls to boycott the Olympic opening
ceremony grow. China claims Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai
Lama is trying to wreck the Olympic Games by inciting violence.

He rejects the accusations but the countdown to the Games is unlikely to
be smooth. At the weekend there were protests as the Olympic flame
started its journey around the world. And there's also talk in the
European Parliament of possibly boycotting the opening ceremony.