China Needs to Open Up, Says His Holiness the Dalai Lama[Tuesday, 12 October 2010, 3:15 p.m.]

In this file photo His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks to the media at the Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Japan on Saturday, 31 October 2009

Tokyo: His
Holiness the Dalai Lama on his way to a three-week schedule in the US
and Canada transited Japan and made a brief stop at Tokyo Narita on
Monday. His Holiness’ transit came at a time when the news of Liu
Xiaobo, a prominent Chinese dissident being awarded Nobel Peace Prize
has become a popular news piece here. Japanese NHK television and Kyodo
Tsushin team conducted a brief interview of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
on this matter.”It is a timely and very appropriate that the
2010 Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Mr Liu Xiaobo. Through this award
his effort to bring freedom and democracy in China through non-violent
means is recognized by the world. Chinese leaders now need to open up
and come out from that narrow-minded attitude. The leadership should
accept the reality, what the Chinese people are demanding is what is
already being provided in the nation’s constitution. Blocking BBC, CNN
and news media will not help. It will only bring bad name to China,”
said His Holiness the Dalai Lama.For a message to Mr Liu
Xiaobo, His Holiness said, “the world has recognized your noble effort,
despite the temporary setback, you should not lose your heart. Keep up
your moral strength and determination. The world is behind you.”His
Holiness consoled Mr Liu Xiaobo’s wife Mrs Liu Xia not to get
discouraged. When asked if this Nobel Peace Prize could bring change in
China, His Holiness said, “change in China depends on many factors,
yes, this Nobel Peace Prize is one of the many factors. China needs
many Liu Xiaobo to bring change.”His Holiness appreciated the
recent speech by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on democracy and
indispensability of freedom of speech in China, “this is good, Chinese
leadership should work toward the ideals of democracy and freedom. This
is good for China and for all,” he said.His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the entourage left for San Francisco in the evening on the same day.[Report filed by Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Tokyo]