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World Tibet Network News Published by the Canada Tibet Committee Friday, March 10, 2006

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3. Dalai Lama 'wants to visit China' (BBC)

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BBC News, March 10, 2006
Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has repeated his wish to
visit China, on the anniversary of the 1959 uprising against China's
takeover.

The Dalai Lama has made several such calls before, but China has always
refused, accusing him of separatism.

The Dalai Lama said he wanted to see for himself China's development and
visit Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

In a speech to mark the anniversary, he also stressed his desire for
Tibetan autonomy, not independence.

Representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government met last
month for a fifth round of talks, in an ongoing dialogue.

"As well as visiting the pilgrim sites, I hope to be able to see for
myself the changes and developments in the People's Republic of China,"
the Dalai Lama told thousands of followers in Dharamsala, northern India
- the seat of the exiled Tibetan government.

He also said that the last round of talks between the Chinese and
Tibetan delegations should have cleared any doubt as to his aspirations
for a future Tibet.

"I have stated time and again that I do not wish to seek Tibet's
separation from China, but that I will seek its future within the
framework of the Chinese constitution," he said.

"Anyone who has heard this statement would realise, unless his or her
view of reality is clouded by suspicion, that my demand for genuine
self-rule does not amount to a demand for separation."

Correspondents say there have been no tangible results so far from the
talks, which resumed in 2002.

But Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, the Dalai Lama's chief representative, said
after the February talks that there was a growing understanding between
both sides.

Story from BBC NEWS:

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Articles in this Issue:

1. Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for March 10th Anniversary:
2. Statement of the Kashag on the 47th Anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising Day
3. Dalai Lama 'wants to visit China' (BBC)
4. Dalai Lama wants to go to China (AP)
5. Dalai Lama calls for support for dialogue (ICT)
6. US Annual Human Rights Report Says China Commits Serious Human Rights Abuses in Tibet: President Bush to hold summit with Chinese President Hu in DC

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