Beijing 'to talk to Dalai aides'

Red China desperately needs DaLai Lama's help to open Olympic Games
peacefully then after the game they will crack down Tibetan


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last updated at 10:12 GMT, Friday, 25 April 2008 11:12 UK

Pro-Tibet protesters in Bangkok, file image
Global leaders have put pressure on China over Tibet

Chinese officials will hold talks with the Dalai Lama's
representatives, state media says, in the first meeting since rioting
broke out in Tibet last month.

Xinhua news agency quoted an official as saying a meeting would take
place "in coming days".

A spokesman for the Tibetan spiritual leader welcomed the offer of
talks.

Beijing has consistently blamed what it termed a "Dalai clique" for
fomenting unrest in Tibetan areas of China - an allegation he has
strenuously denied.

The Dalai Lama insists he has no political role and played no part in
the protests.

Olympics demand

Xinhua quoted an unnamed official as saying the government had taken
into account "requests repeatedly made by the Dalai side for resuming
talks".

TIBET DIVIDE
Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century
1950: China launched a military assault
Opposition to Chinese rule led to a bloody uprising in 1959
Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India


"The relevant department of the central government will have contact
and consultation with Dalai's private representative in the coming
days," the official said.

But the official added that the Dalai Lama would need to "take
credible moves to stop activities aimed at splitting China".

This included putting a stop to "plotting and inciting violence and
stop disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games so as to
create conditions for talks".

The Dalai Lama's spokesman, Tenzin Takla, told the BBC he had received
no official notification from the Chinese government of its desire to
meet.

China has held talks with the Dali Lama's representatives before,
though meetings have rarely resulted in any progress.

According to Mr Takla, the last round was held in June and July last
year in Beijing.

He added that the Dalai Lama had been "making efforts to reach out to
the Chinese people and the Chinese leadership" since last month's
protests.

Rallies began in the main Tibetan city of Lhasa on 10 March, led by
Buddhist monks.

Over the following week protests spread and became violent -
particularly in Lhasa where ethnic Chinese were targeted and shops
were burnt down.

Beijing cracked down on the protesters with force, sending in hundreds
of troops to regain control of the restive areas.