His Holiness Expresses Faith in Chinese People and Hope for Better Situation in TibetMonday, 3 November 2008, 2:08 p.m.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks to reporters at a press conference in Tokyo, capital of Japan, on 3 November 2008. Photo: AP |
Tokyo: While talks are underway between his envoys and the Chinese leadership, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, “he always has faith in the Chinese people and expressed hope that the situation in Tibet could change in a few days.””The situation can change in a few days. I always have faith in the Chinese people. They’re realistic, generally speaking, and hard-working,” His Holiness said in Tokyo.His Holiness told this during a meeting with reporters from various news agencies on the second day of his visit to Japan on Monday, 3 November.His Holiness said that Tibet would benefit if it remained as an autonomous region within the framework of the People’s Republic of China and that the future of Tibet rests with the Tibetan people and not with him. Tibetans in Tibet are not happy, His Holiness said. “Material conditions may have improved, but inner conditions are far worse than before. Now, morally, I cannot pretend that things are all right. We have to accept reality. After all, the Tibetan issue is the Tibetan people’s issue, not the Dalai Lama’s issue.” His Holiness said he hoped the Chinese government would acknowledge the reality of Tibetans’ suffering but that it has not happened. “The situation inside Tibet is almost like a military occupation. Everywhere. Everywhere, fear, terror. I cannot remain indifferent,” His Holiness said.His Holiness welcomed the train link between China and Tibetan capital Lhasa calling it a sign of ‘economic development’. His Holiness called China a very ‘important nation, an ancient nation.’ “Manpower, military power, material power–they’re all there. But moral power, moral authority–that is lacking. In the long run, this is very bad for the image of China.”His Holiness said that China’s censorship of media is keeping the Chinese people ignorant of the events in Tibet. “People there have no chance to access reality. If the Chinese people knew thoroughly what happened in Tibet, I think many of them would feel quite sad.” His Holiness said how happy he was when the Chinese government responded to the tragedy of the earthquake in Sichuan “very transparently.” But so far that spirit has not been carried into other areas, including the Tibet problem, His Holiness said.His Holiness said he does not consider himself the ruler of Tibet, but rather, as the free spokesman for the Tibetan people. “For those of us outside Tibet, in foreign countries, it is our moral responsibility to speak out on behalf of the Tibetan people,” His Holiness added.–Reporting by the office of Tibet, Japan. Editing by Lobsang Choedak