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09-04-08, 01:13
Bush urges China to talk to Dalai Lama 32 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush urged China on Wednesday to "begin a dialogue" with representatives of the Dalai Lama as part of efforts to quiet the situation in Tibet.
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"We both agree that it would stand the Chinese government in good stead if they would, you know, begin a dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama," Bush said as he met with Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
"If they ever were to reach out to the Dalai Lama, they'd find him to be a really fine man, a peaceful man, a man who is anti-violence, a man who is not for independence but for the cultural identity of the Tibetans," Bush said.
The violence in Tibet on March 14 came after days of peaceful protests in Lhasa against 57 years of Chinese rule and quickly spilled over into other parts of China inhabited by Tibetans.
Exiled Tibetan leaders say 150 people have died in the Chinese crackdown on the demonstrations. China insists it has acted with restraint and killed no one, while blaming Tibetan "rioters" for the deaths of 20 people.
The unrest, the worst to hit the Himalayan region in decades, has come at an awkward time for Beijing at it prepares to host the Summer Olympics, attracting the attention of the entire world.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080409/pl_afp/chinaunresttibetoly2008usbushdalailama_08040916390 6;_ylt=AgHrQXn4sF5W.MMrDJPvkLRg.3QA
WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush urged China on Wednesday to "begin a dialogue" with representatives of the Dalai Lama as part of efforts to quiet the situation in Tibet.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We both agree that it would stand the Chinese government in good stead if they would, you know, begin a dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama," Bush said as he met with Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
"If they ever were to reach out to the Dalai Lama, they'd find him to be a really fine man, a peaceful man, a man who is anti-violence, a man who is not for independence but for the cultural identity of the Tibetans," Bush said.
The violence in Tibet on March 14 came after days of peaceful protests in Lhasa against 57 years of Chinese rule and quickly spilled over into other parts of China inhabited by Tibetans.
Exiled Tibetan leaders say 150 people have died in the Chinese crackdown on the demonstrations. China insists it has acted with restraint and killed no one, while blaming Tibetan "rioters" for the deaths of 20 people.
The unrest, the worst to hit the Himalayan region in decades, has come at an awkward time for Beijing at it prepares to host the Summer Olympics, attracting the attention of the entire world.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080409/pl_afp/chinaunresttibetoly2008usbushdalailama_08040916390 6;_ylt=AgHrQXn4sF5W.MMrDJPvkLRg.3QA