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Dalai Lama: Londoners can help Tibet struggle
Joe Murphy, Political Editor21 May 2008
The Dalai Lama today issued a direct appeal to the people of London to help Tibet gain more freedoms.
The spiritual leader said ordinary Londoners could make a difference by giving facts about Tibet to Chinese students and businessmen visiting the capital.
He also urged the capital's large Chinese and Tibetan communities to come together and launch a Sino-Tibetan friendship organisation to promote closer ties. "Further educate whenever you have the opportunity," he said. The 72-year-old was speaking at the House of Commons on the second day of his 11-day visit to Britain, weeks after the bloody crackdown on Tibetan monks demonstrating against Chinese rule and the disruption to the Olympic torch relay.
He urged sympathetic Londoners to extend the hand of friendship to China and help convert its "intellectuals".
"In the universities there are many Chinese students and there are many Chinese businessmen. You can educate them. That is where people, including the media, can help," he said. "I am suggesting to the Chinese and Tibetan communities that now is the time to set up a Sino-Tibetan friendship group."
The Dalai Lama said he had heard of Tibetan shops and restaurants that were being boycotted by Chinese people, which was evidence of misunderstandings between communities that should have much in common.
His message of friendship reflected his political campaign to win greater
autonomy for Tibet by assuring the Beijing leadership that he was not demanding full independence.
With a row raging over Gordon Brown's refusal to invite him to Downing Street, he said he would have gone if asked. "No reason not to," he said.
Downing Street defended the decision for Mr Brown to meet the Dalai Lama at Lambeth Palace on Friday, emphasising the visitor's spiritual rather than his political leadership. "As far as we are concerned, the issue here is the substance of the meeting and the fact it is taking place at all," said a spokesman.
But former Lib-Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said many people would conclude Mr Brown wanted to see him but not offend the Chinese government.
The Dalai Lama will hold private talks with Prince Charles at Clarence House tomorrow.
