Beijing, May 4
The much-awaited talks between the Dalai Lama’s envoys and China ended abruptly today hours after the two sides met for the first time since the unrest erupted in Tibet in March, with Beijing demanding “credible moves” from the the Tibetan leader to stop violence as a precondition for the next round of parleys.
Chinese officials and the Dalai Lama’s “private representatives” agreed to hold another round of “contact and consultation at an appropriate time”, state-run Xinhua news agency said after the meeting in the booming southern city of Shenzen.
It said during the meeting officials Zhu Weiqun and Sitar told the Dalai Lama’s envoys that the riots in Lhasa on March 12 had given rise to “new obstacles” for resuming contacts and consultations with the “Dalai side”.
However, the government, they said, still arranged the meeting with “great patience and sincerity”. Zhu and Sitar had expressed the hope that to create conditions for the next round of contact and consultation, the Dalai side would have to take “credible moves to stop activities aimed at splitting China; stop plotting and inciting violence and stop disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games”, the agency said quoting sources.
Earlier, the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharmshala had said talks between the Dalai Lama’s envoys Lody Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen and Chinese officials would continue for next two-three days but the parleys failed to stretch beyond a few hours at the tight guarded state guest house.
Tenzin Takhla, Dalai Lama’s secretary had this morning told PTI from Dharamshala, that the envoys are expected to return to India by Thursday and brief the Dalai Lama on the talks. The Chinese officials said the Lhasa riots, which were “against the peoples will” had jeopardised the fundamental interests of all the Chinese people, including Tibetans and caused “great public indignation and strong condemnation” by people from various walks of life.
The Tibetan government-in-exile said yesterday their “immediate concern” was for ending “repression” and lifting of all restrictions on Tibetans and they will raise it with the Chinese. Chinese officials involved in the parleys defended the crackdown saying it was “completely correct” for the local government to take action in accordance with the law to maintain social stability.
— PTI
