Dalai Lama Says His Aides Are Talking to China
By VOA News
14 April 2008
The Dalai Lama says his representatives are conducting talks with
Chinese officials through private channels.
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader told a news conference Sunday in
the U.S. state of Wa****ngton that he had no direct involvement in the
conversations.
The Dalai Lama did not say what issues are being discussed with China,
and he said it is not clear what might result from the talks.
The Nobel Peace laureate also told re****ters that he will resign as
leader of Tibet's exiled government if violence in his homeland
spirals out of control.
He denied Chinese claims that he has called for Tibet to split from
China, and that he is behind the recent turmoil. The Dalai Lama said
the whole world knows that he is seeking only autonomy for the
region.
The Dalai Lama is attending a five-day "Seeds of Compassion"
conference in Seattle.
He has led a peaceful campaign for Tibetan autonomy since he fled the
region in 1959.
China has controlled Tibet since 1951.
Exiled Tibetan leaders say about 140 people have died since Chinese
security forces took action against protesters last month. China says
about 20 people have died, and blames the casualties on Tibetan
rioters.
