Dharamsala : US President Barack Obama held private talks with the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at the white house in Washington late Saturday, a move that has angered China.
The Tibetan government in exile issued a statement here at the seat of the Tibetan government in exile saying the meeting stressed the need to “encourage direct dialogue to resolve long-standing differences between China and the Tibetans.â€
At the end of the 45 minute meeting the white house issued a statement, “The President reiterated his strong support for the preservation of the unique religious,cultural and lingustic traditions of Tibet and the Tibetan people throughout the world.â€
“He underscored the importance of the protection of human rights of Tibetans in China.â€
The President commended the Dalai lama’s commitment to non violence and dialogue with China and his pursuit of the ‘middle way’ approach.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with President Obama, the Dalai Lama said the President showed concern about human rights and freedom.
“Naturally he showed genuine concern about suffering in Tibet and other places,it was wonderful,†the spiritual leader was quoted as saying.
China had warned the US not to meet the Dalai Lama whom they see as a seperatist.
Beijing reacted harshly after the meeting,“Such an act has grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs,hurt the feelings of Chinese people and damaged Sino-US relations,†a spokesman of the Chinese government said.
The Dalai Lama has been living in Dharamsala in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh after he fled Tibet following a failed a coup against communist China in 1959.
In a 20 year career published widely. He has worked for the BBC, AFP, The Statesman, IANS and the Business Standard . Known for his hard hitting writing and occasional off-beat stories. He lives in Shimla.
China’s media manipulation!
US President Barack Obama’s Saturday meeting with the Dalai Lama is not interference in China’s internal affairs. After the meeting, Obama restated the official US position, saying that Tibet is part of the People’s Republic of China and that Washington does not support independence for Tibet. What does China want more? Chinese leaders strong indignation is related to their past actions in Tibet and why they don’t want the world to remember them. Separatist forces seeking Tibet independence are not terrorists as long as they make their point by telling the truth and don’t resolve to violence. When they fight tyranny by showing to the world its brutal actions, they can be call humanists.
Tibeten and and Uyghurs of Xinjiang in West China are two not just potential but also enduring movements of seccession from the state compared with ‘our’ Kashmir. China’s insecurity about ‘One China’ breaking into three (not to count Taiwan and Hongkong) are much bigger and a real nightmare than India’s Kashmir. However, India is more chicken-hearted when it comes to facing threat of secession.