[+/-] : Beijing Olympic Games: Dalai Lama calls for boycott of opening ceremony

Beijing Olympic Games: Dalai Lama calls for boycott of opening ceremony
By Stephen Adams 23/05/2008

The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, has called on Western governments to boycott the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony in Beijing if they think it will put pressure on the Chinese government to change.


But he said if they thought they could achieve more through diplomatic means, they should attend the ceremony.

Speaking during a high-profile 11-day tour of Britain, he also confirmed it was Gordon Brown’s decision to hold their meeting tomorrow away from Number 10, in a bid not to offend the Chinese.

The Dalai Lama is due to meet the Prime Minister at Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

He is also due to meet with House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Committee to lobby his cause today.

In the interview with the BBC , the Buddhist spiritual leader, 73, said of the Olympics’ opening ceremony: “Right from the beginning I fully support about the Olympic Games. Meantime I have also made clear the world takes this opportunity to remind the Chinese government about poor record on human rights, religious freedom and environment. The Chinese leadership should pay more attention.”

Asked whether politicians and others should attend the opening ceremony if invited, he said: “[If an ] individual feel [that is] the best way to remind them [is] not [to[ attend, don’t do it.”

But he qualified that: “If they feel to talk, to meet with Chinese leaders, that’s more effective, then go there.”

On the question of where his meeting with Mr Brown is to be held today, the Dalai Lama said: “From my part there’s no differences, so long as the meeting [takes place]. So perhaps I think [with] our meeting, the Prime Minister I think, is becoming more spiritual minded.”

He accepted the Prime Minister did not want to receive him at Number 10 for “economy reasons”.

The Bhuddist spiritual leader, 73, said he was fully committed to a “middle way” of bringing greater autonomy for Tibet, but said he did not want the disputed province to break away entirely from the Chinese state.

Asked what exactly he wanted for Tibet, he replied: “We are not seeking separation. It is in our own interest to remain within China.”

“Defence and foreign affairs should be carried by central [Chinese] government but the rest of business - education and environment, religious work - should be handled by Tibetans themselves. That’s meaningful autonomy.”

He said he thought the Chinese leadership “should take a more liberal way, a more open way, to look towards Tibet.”

Despite the recent crackdown which Tibetan authorities claim left 203 civilians dead - a figure denied by the Chinese - he said he was “quite optimistic” about prospects for his homeland.

But he admitted his people were getting “frustrated” with the lack of progress towards greater autonomy.

“The longer time [there is] no improvement inside Tibet and ruthless suppression continue, then more frustration.”

On Friday he will also plant a tree at Clarence House in the presence of the Prince of Wales.

The pair have met a number of times before, with Charles known to be a keen admirer of the Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan holy man will also deliver a speech on Universal Responsibility in the Modern World at the Royal Albert Hall.

Story from Telegraph News:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2006564/Beijing-Olympic-Games-Dalai-Lama-calls-for-boycott-of-opening-ceremony.html
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[+/-] : Tibetan ‘Olympics’ hit a number of hurdles

Tibetan ‘Olympics’ hit a number of hurdles

AFP, DHARAMSHALA, INDIA Friday, May 23, 2008, Published on Taipei Times

A mock “Olympics” being held as an anti-China protest by Tibetan exiles in India has failed to attract sponsors and cannot even afford to pay out the prize money on offer, organizers say.

The alternative Olympics, which has just 23 participants, comes less than three months before the real games in Beijing and will feature sports such as swimming, archery and shooting.

Catherine Schuetze, an Australian acting as clerk for the “Tibetan Olympics”, said lack of money was threatening the event, which starts Thursday in Dharamshala, home to the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

“We’re stripping expenses to the bone and we’re still about to run out of money,” she said. “There’s a desperate need for sponsors, donations — anything.”

The Tibetan games’ organizer, Lobsang Wangyal, warned he did not have enough cash to hand out US$8,000 in promised prize money.

“I’ve got just 40,000 rupees (US$930) and total expenses are expected to be well over 2 million rupees,” said Wangyal, who planned the event as a protest against Chinese rule in his remote Himalayan homeland.

Organizers face other problems as the exiled Tibetan administration in Dharamsala has turned its back on the event, which it views as too insulting to China and likely to damage the prospects of future talks.

The Tibetan administration favors the Dalai Lama’s goal of “meaningful autonomy” for the region within China, rather than the full independence demanded by more radical Tibetans — such as those behind the sports event.

The Dalai Lama’s Tibetan government-in-exile on Wednesday also called for a suspension of protests against China as a mark of respect to victims of this month’s devastating earthquake.

The Dalai Lama has been at pains to assert he supports China as the Olympic host and has distanced himself from the protests that dogged the global torch relay.

The Dharamsala event is also causing embarrassment for its unwilling host India, which has allowed the Tibetan exiles sanctuary as long as they do not use the soil as a springboard for anti-Chinese activities.

But games director Wangyal said the Tibetan Olympics were “not being held to counter the Beijing Olympics.”

Besides Schuetze, volunteers from France, Italy, Peru, Egypt, Japan, Israel, Germany and the US have teamed up to help.

“But it’s hard work without funds,” said Susan Hayano, a US photographer who has been drafted into action to take pictures of the games.

Despite the lack of official enthusiasm for the Dharamsala event, the competitors were upbeat.

“I’ve participated in many anti-China protests and I thought this one’s going to be cool as there’ll be no police to beat us up,” said 22-year-old Tenzin Dhadon, who traveled from Nepal to take part in the javelin.

Ten women and 13 men aged between 18 and 30 have been practicing for the past week for the games and the three top winners will receive hand-crafted gold-plated medals.

However, the mountainous topography has imposed restrictions on some events. The 100m dash has been shortened to just 24m because of lack of flat land.

Chinese-controlled Tibet was rocked by unrest in March, and the Tibetan government-in-exile says 203 Tibetans were killed and 1,000 injured in China’s subsequent crackdown.

China says Tibetan “rioters” and “insurgents” killed 21 people, and has accused the Dalai Lama of trying to sabotage the Beijing Olympics — a charge the Tibetan spiritual leader denies.
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