Chinese government wants commitment from Dalai Lama

Calcutta News.Net
Friday 4th July, 2008

The Chinese government has told the Dalai Lama they will not hold further talks with him unless he publicly declares that the activists of Tibetan Youth Congress should not disturb the Beijing Olympic Games.

The Chinese Department in charge of Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs has said a new round of talks can be held at the end of the year if the Dalai Lama shows 'positive behavior'.

Du Qinglin, head of the Communist Central Committee in China, recently met with two representatives of the Dalai Lama to tell them he was ready to keep 'the door of dialogue' open.

Du told the representatives: 'The Dalai Lama should openly and explicitly promise not to support activities to disturb the Beijing Olympic Games and plots to fan violence, and justify his words with his actions. He should also take steps to show he does not support the violent terrorist activities of the Tibetan Youth Congress and should help curb them.'

'The central government will continue to support the region's economic and social development and work toward improving the living standards of the people in Tibet,' he said.

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