Tibet: The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, yesterday reversed almost five decades of policy and declared that he and his followers were ready to accept his country remaining part of China. "As long as I am responsible for the affairs of Tibet we remain committed to not seeking independence for Tibet and are willing to remain within the People's Republic of China," the Nobel peace laureate said in a surprisingly emollient statement at a function marking the 46th anniversary of the uprising against Chinese occupation.
"We remain hopeful that we will be able to develop the necessary trust and resolve this long-standing issue to our mutual benefit," he told a large gathering of Tibetans at the Tsuglakhang temple in the Indian town of Dharmsala in the Himalayas.
The Tibetan leader, who has been living there since fleeing Lhasa in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese occupation as head of a government-in-exile, said he only wanted greater autonomy for his people.
The Dalai Lama, whose presence in India has been irksome to Beijing, welcomed the recent meeting between his representatives and the Chinese leadership. He reiterated that he would not seek to hold office or take a political position if exiled Tibetans were allowed to return home with a degree of freedom.
"The Dalai Lama is a realist. He is fully aware that his dream of a Buddhist Tibet will remain a mirage, as the Chinese will never leave his homeland and continue as occupiers," Brig Arun Sahgal said in New Delhi.
Reaching some kind of compromise, even one dictated to the Dalai Lama by Beijing, remains the next best option for him in his lifetime, he added.
Last September the Tibetan spiritual leader's senior emissary, Lodi Gyari, met Chinese officials in Beijing and engaged in what both sides said were "serious and extensive" talks.
This dialogue followed a series of meetings between the Dalai Lama's envoys and Beijing.
China is under attack from human rights groups for its activities in Tibet, centred on ruthlessly colonising the occupied region with Han Chinese nationals.
Direct contact between exiled Tibetans and China was not established for 20 years after the failed revolt on March 10th, 1959. Talks were called off in 1993, however, due to opposing positions on which neither side was willing to compromise.
But dialogue was quietly revived two years ago. Ever since, the two sides have been trying to untangle the issue in which allowing the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet, albeit under certain conditions, was important.
China goes to unusual lengths to justify its position on Tibet and is unwilling to reach any agreement that does not involve the Dalai Lama.
Analysts say China remains "paranoid" about its vast borders, fearing that a security threat emanates from them. Consequently, over the past decade it had reached settlements on outstanding and complex territorial disputes with Russia, the central Asian republics and Vietnam.
Negotiations for similar Beijing-dominated arrangements are continuing with Tibet and India.