China's cabinet has
stated it will never discuss the future of Tibet with the Dalai Lama,
underscoring that the massive unrest in the region that threatened to undermine
the Beijing Olympic Games produced no change in Beijing's position. On potential outcomes of talks with
representatives of the Dalai Lama, the new director-general of the information
office of the State Council, China's cabinet, said yesterday: "The central
Government will never discuss the future of Tibet with the Dalai Lama. What we
can discuss with him is his future and that of some of his supporters. When Lhasa erupted on March 14, with Tibetans
killing Han Chinese and looting their
businesses and homes, the topic of Tibet soared
to the top of many agendas. The
Government cracked down on ethnic Tibetans, who responded with protests
throughout the Tibetan areas of other provinces and regions. It appeared that, whether planned or not, the
cause of greater Tibetan freedom had succeeded - by becoming so prominent so
near the Olympics - in barging its way on to the priorities of international
leaders, governments and other organizations.
Some information for this report was provided by
The Australian and ANI
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