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Dalai Lama says China deserves to host Olympic games
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SPECIALCORRESPONDENT on 29 March, 2008 11:45:00
 
According to the Tibetan spiritual leader and head of the Tibetan
Government-in-exile, Dalai Lama; despite the killing of innocent Tibetans, China
deserves to host the Olympic games. Briefing the media on Saturday in the
national capital, Dalai Lama said, "I am fully committed for the Olympic games.
We respect China?s interest. Even three years ago, when the venue was being
decided, I had expressed that since China is the most populated nation, it
deserves to host the Olympics." Reiterating his stand that the Olympic torch
should pass through India peacefully, Dalai Lama said that "the Olympic torch is
a part of the games and his stance for the torch remains same, as for the
Olympics". It would be noteworthy that the Tibetan Youth Congress is planning a
demonstration against the Olympic torch, when it passes through New Delhi on
April 17, 2008. Expressing his deep concern on the cultural genocide in Tibet,
Dalai Lama said that the present scenario, if continued, would worsen the
relationship between the Chinese and the Tibetans. "The democratic progress in
Tibet is under threat. It is going to be serious because after the Olympic games
at least one million Chinese people are going to settle down in Tibet," Dalai
Lama said. "We are not against the Chinese people, but intentionally or
unintentionally the cultural genocide is taking place. I support Olympic games
but China must improve on human rights, religion freedom and environment," Dalai
Lama asserted. "Our approach is a midway approach," Lama remarked. "I am a
senior advisor. We don?t want separation with China, but they should provide the
full guarantee about protection of our culture, language and environment." "We
want a meaningful autonomy. I reckon Tibet is backward, but Tibet is spiritually
advanced. Beside advanced spirituality, we want material development as well.
Therefore I am fully committed on the midway approach," the Buddhist spiritual
leader asserted. Showing gratitude over the role of the Government of India on
the Tibet crisis, Lama said, "Basically Indian Government has done maximum help
as far as Tibetan refugees are concerned, be it the education or anything else.
But in certain fields, government of India has certain limitations. However, we
seek help from the international community for the cause of the 6 million
isolated Tibetans," Dalai Lama said.