McCain meets His Holiness, urges China to free Tibetan prisoners

Dharamshala: Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Friday called on China to release Tibetan prisoners as he met with the His Holiness Dalai Lama, Associated Press reported.

After a 45-minute meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, McCain said the Beijing Olympic Games in August provide an opportunity for China to demonstrate it recognizes human rights. He also said His Holiness the Dalai Lama is merely seeking basic rights to preserve Tibetan culture, language and religion.

"That's why I'm so disappointed by repeated statements by Chinese officials that ascribe to the Dalai Lama views and actions divorced from what he actually represents. Such rhetoric doesn't serve a cause of peaceful change and reconciliation," AP quoted McCain as saying.

"I urge the Chinese government to release Tibetan political prisoners, account for Tibetans who have, quote, 'disappeared' since protests in March, and engage in meaningful dialogue on genuine autonomy for Tibet," McCain said.

His Holiness said McCain had shown "genuine concern" for human rights, democracy and environmental concerns with regards to China, but he emphasized he wasn't endorsing McCain's presidential bid.

"His Holiness represents the profound desire of millions of Tibetans for basic dignity and human rights. His nonviolence approach and his lifelong work seeking common ground across cultural and religious divides are an inspiration to all of mankind and to millions of Americans," McCain said as His Holiness the Dalai Lama clutched McCain's hands.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama was in Aspen for a symposium on the celebration of Tibetan culture sponsored by The Aspen Institute.

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