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During celebrations of the 48th founding anniversary of the Tibetan Children’s Village on 25 October here in Dharamsala, His Holiness the Dalai Lama made some remarks on the issue of Tibet that are now being quoted out of context in some media reports. Consequently, to clarify the situation we are issuing the gist of His Holiness’ remarks below as well as a separate translation of a transcript of what he really said.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that Tibetans have long been pursuing a path to find a solution to the issue of Tibet that would be mutually acceptable to Tibetans and Chinese. This has received widespread appreciation from the international community, several governments included. More importantly, it has gained the support of many Chinese intellectuals.

His Holiness went on to say that, unfortunately, the Chinese leadership has so far not responded positively to our overtures and does not seem interested in addressing the issue in a realistic way. Beginning in March this year, a series of protests and demonstrations erupted in Lhasa and in many other traditional Tibetan areas. These were clearly a spontaneous expression of the Tibetan people’s deep-seated resentment and dissatisfaction over more than five decades of repressive Chinese communist rule.

Since the Chinese Government has accused His Holiness of orchestrating these protests in Tibet, he called for a thorough investigation to examine these allegations, even offering access to Central Tibetan Administration files and records here in India. So far, this offer has not been taken up, but the situation in Tibet becomes graver by the day. Therefore, His Holiness said that it is difficult for him to continue to shoulder such a heavy responsibility when the present Chinese leadership does not seem to appreciate simple truth, reason and common sense. In the absence of any positive reciprocal response from the Chinese leadership, His Holiness feels that if he cannot help find a solution, he would rather not hinder it in any way. His Holiness feels that he cannot afford to pretend that his persistent efforts to find a mutually satisfactory solution to the Tibetan problem are bearing fruit.

Therefore, on 11 September His Holiness called a special meeting of Tibetans from all parts of our community in exile to engage in wide-ranging discussions with the aim of identifying realistic and non-violent options for the future course of our struggle. His Holiness concluded that when all is said and done it is for the Tibetan people themselves to decide about their collective future.

Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Dharamsala
28 October 2008

Der Dalai Lama hat die Hoffnung aufgegeben, in Gesprächen mit der chinesischen Regierung mehr Autonomie für das besetzte Tibet zu erreichen. Das sagte das geistliche Oberhaupt der tibetischen Buddhisten am Samstag in Dharamsala. «Soweit es mich betrifft, habe ich aufgegeben», sagte er.
(ap) In ungewöhnlich klaren Worten hat der 73-jährige Dalai Lama seine Enttäuschung über die Gepräche mit der chinesischen Führung ausgedrückt. Er glaube nicht mehr an einen Erfolg. Nun müsse das tibetische Volk und die Exilregierung selbst entscheiden, wie der Dialog fortgesetzt werden solle, sagte der Dalai Lama in ungewöhnlich deutlichen Worten.
Er habe sich im Umgang mit China jahrelang um einen Weg des Ausgleichs und des Kompromisses bemüht. «Aber es gab kein positives Entgegenkommen von der chinesischen Seite.» Tibet ist jedoch nicht nur eine Sache des Dalai Lamas, es geht alle sechs Millionen Tibeter an, wie er weiter ausführte. Nun solle die demokratisch gewählte Exilregierung den weiteren Kurs bestimmen.
Die Äusserung des Dalai Lamas kommt unmittelbar vor einer erneuten Gesprächsrunde mit der chinesischen Führung Ende Oktober. Die Verhandlungen waren zuletzt nach den antichinesischen Unruhen im März und der anschliessenden Niederschlagung der Proteste aufgenommen worden. Die ersten Verhandlungen vor den Olympischen Spielen erzielten jedoch keine konkreten Ergebnisse.
Der Dalai Lama fordert eine weitgehende kulturelle und religiöse Autonomie für Tibet, jedoch nicht die Unabhängigkeit, wie ihm Peking immer wieder vorwirft. Die meisten Tibeter unterstützen seinen bisherigen Kurs, allein der Tibetische Jugendkongress stellt weitgehendere Forderungen. Tibet wurde in den 1950er Jahren von China besetzt, seit 1959 lebt der Dalai Lama in indischen Exil.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama underwent a successful removal of gallstones this morning at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, which is a simple routine procedure. He will rest a few days in New Delhi before returning to Dharamsala.

His schedules, including travel programmes, remain unchanged.

Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Dharamsala
10 October 2008