 Dalai Lama: China denies problem in Tibet February 24, 2010 -- Updated 0235 GMT (1035 HKT) CNN) -- China is "denying there is a problem" between its government and Tibet, the Dalai Lama says. In his first interview since his recent controversial meeting with President Obama, the spiritual leader of Tibet told CNN's "Larry King Live" that China claims Tibetans are "very happy ... much, much, much better than previous Tibet." However, he noted that his Tibetan government-in-exile has received information indicating "suppression ... or restrictions" culturally and religiously of the Tibetan people. China rejects Tibetan claims of independence or greater autonomy and claims sovereignty over the area. Statement of Chinese Embassy in the U.S. on Dalai Lama's visit But the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India, told King that Tibetans "are not seeking independence." "That's why we are called middle way," he said. "We complain [about] the presence of policy in Tibet. It is actually very much damaging. ... But [on the] other hand, we also do not want separation from China because ... Tibet [is a] landlocked country, materially backward. Every Tibetan want modernized Tibet, so for that reason, [we] remain within the People's Republic of China." The Dalai Lama met with Obama on Thursday despite strong objections from Chinese government officials. The meeting threatened to further complicate Sino-U.S. tensions, which have been rising in recent months. China warned it would damage Beijing's ties to Washington. Beijing regards the Nobel Peace Prize laureate as a dangerous "separatist" who wishes to sever Tibet from China. "Larry King Live" The Dalai Lama told King he first met Obama when the future president was a young senator on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was a "very impressive, young politician then," he said of Obama. "As soon as he become president, we had some sort of contact," he said, indicating that Obama expressed sympathy toward Tibet's plight. However, a meeting was postponed due to sensitive talks Obama was conducting with Chinese leaders. "Now this time, despite some difficulties, we had that meeting and [it was a] very pleasant one," he said. The Dalai Lama said he discussed three priorities during the meeting with Obama: "the promotion of human value in order to create a better world," the promotion of religious harmony and his desire for modern education for Tibetan children. He called Obama very receptive to his priorities. Asked whether he thinks often of his homeland, the Dalai Lama said he occasionally conjures up memories of his childhood in Tibet. But after more than 50 years in India, "my body [is] supported by Indian rice and Indian dollar," he said. He sought to deflect attention away from his exile, saying "this is not our concern. Our concern is 6 million Tibetan people's basic rights and culture. These are our main issues." As a Buddhist, the Dalai Lama spoke often during the interview about the concept of love and peace. Asked whether he has love for the Chinese, he answered, "Certainly. We have to practice that." He admitted to "some irritation" with Chinese hardliners, but insisted they are "small moments." Los Angeles: In an exclusive interview with CNN's Larry King on Sunday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama underscored that his "Middle Way Approach for seeking a mutually beneficial solution to the issue of Tibet within the framework of the People's Republic of China is in the best interests of China". The Middle-Way Approach: A Framework for Resolving the Issue of Tibet Dalai Lamai Speaks in Los Angeles Area (2:13) 22 feb 2010 Dalai lama ontvangt medaille voor democratie in Washington Dalai Lama receives Democracy Service Medal (6 precious video clips)  Online petition - The Panchen Lama - 15 Years of Silence and Neglect 
 President Barack Obama meets with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House February 18, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Dalai Lama throws snow at White House press Call For Release Of China’s “Olympic Prisoners” During Vancouver Games Saturday, 13 February 2010 15:02 Reporters Without Borders International: rsf.org 
As Vancouver prepares to inaugurate the 2010 Winter Olympics tomorrow, China continues to detain human rights activists,
journalists and bloggers who were arrested for speaking out before, during and after the 2008 Beijing Olympics."Dozens of Chinese families continue to suffer the awful effects of the last Olympics because a loved-one is still in jail for using the fundamental right to free expression," Reporters Without Borders said. "Unfortunately, the International Olympic Committee and its president, Jacques Rogge, are doing nothing to obtain the release of these innocent people, whose ordeal is a stain on the Olympics' reputation." Reporters Without Borders has sent a petition to Rogge asking him to intercede with the Chinese authorities and seek the release of the "Olympic prisoners" during the Vancouver Games. Signed by more than 1,600 Internet users, the petition urges Rogge "to speak up and to act in defence of free expression." Reporters Without Borders will give copies of the petition to Chinese embassies in Paris and Berlin tomorrow. The petition also urges Chinese President Hu Jintao to ask the competent authorities in China to release the "Olympic prisoners." More information about the "Olympic prisoners": http://www.rsf.org/en-petition34043-Olympic_prisoners.html Het antwoord op onderstaande vraag voor uitleg van Vice-Eerste Minister en Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Vraag om uitleg van senator Pol Van Den Driessche aan de Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken over de onderhandelingen tussen de Chinese regering en de Dalai Lama over Tibet 
03.02.2010Op 28 januari werd de zogenaamde negende ronde in de onderhandelingen tussen de vertegenwoordiger van de Dalai Lama en de vertegenwoordigers van de Chinese regering over Tibet gestart. Voor het eerst in 15 maanden vonden er dus nieuwe besprekingen plaats. De VSA, Canada, Groot-Brittannië en Denemarken spraken officieel de hoop uit dat deze onderhandelingen constructief zouden verlopen en resulteren in een betere toekomst voor Tibet. Overleg en dialoog is immers de enige weg naar een vreedzame oplossing voor het vraagstuk Tibet aldus de Deense minister van Buitenlandse Zaken. Men kan zich de vraag stellen of de Chinese overheid bij de start van de onderhandelingen wel werkelijk de wil had om naar een mogelijke oplossing te streven. Net voor de start keurde de politieke top een nieuw ontwikkelingsplan voor Tibet goed op het zogenaamde "Vijfde Tibet Work Forum" In essentie komt dit plan neer op een grotere impuls inzake economische ontwikkeling van de Tibetaanse regio. Tot op heden heeft de regering in Peking reeds 19 miljard euro geďnvesteerd met de bedoeling de Tibetaanse bevolking welvarender te maken. Het streven naar een hogere levensstandaard voor de Tibetanen is op zich een lovenswaardig initiatief. Maar spijtig genoeg zitten hier andere bedoelingen achter. Niet alleen wil men de onrust bij de arme bevolking neutraliseren door hen via een hoger welvaartspeil los te weken van de Dalai Lama, maar ook door de uitbreiding van de infrastructuur met o.a. nieuwe wijken, ziekenhuizen, een nieuw vliegveld en bedrijfsterreinen wenst men vooral nog meer Han Chinezen aan te trekken. Door de goedkeuring van dit plan gaf de communistische regering een schot voor de boeg van de onderhandelingen: een onafhankelijk, separaat of zelfs autonoom Tibet is voor Peking onmogelijk. De gesprekken bleken bijgevolg een maat voor niets. De Chinese staatsmedia meldden op 1 februari na afloop van de gesprekken dat er geen concessies inzake de Chinese nationale soevereiniteit worden gedaan. 1. Heeft ons land net zoals de VSA, Canada, Groot-Brittannië en Denemarken ook bij de Chinese regering aangedrongen op constructieve onderhandelingen? Zo neen, om welke reden?Senator Pol Van Den Driessche back to top Phayul Tibet (Phayul betekend: vaderland) Nieuwsberichten, dagelijks ge-update |