China's central government maintains regular contact with the
Dalai Lama and will not close the door of communications on him,
according to Qiangba Punco, chairman of the Tibet
autonomous regional government.
Speaking during the 10th National People's Congress annual
plenary session in Beijing that concluded yesterday, he expressed
the hope that the Dalai Lama would take stock of the current
situation and "do things beneficial to the Tibetan people".
For many years, the central government has made an effort to
facilitate negotiations, Qiangba Punco told Xinhua in an exclusive
interview.
"But the talks have not achieved anything. This has to do with
the Dalai Lama and his failure to recognize the situation.
"If the West really cares for the Dalai Lama, they should
persuade him to size up the situation, drop any fancy ideas he
might have and do things to benefit the Tibetan people."
The late Deng Xiaoping met with an emissary of the Dalai Lama in
1979, the first time since the Dalai Lama sought refuge in India.
During this meeting, Deng pointed out that the fundamental problem
was that Tibet is a part of China. This is of universal
application.
Other emissaries have been allowed to return for further
discussions since then. "The second eldest brother of the Dalai
Lama himself has returned to China more than ten times.
"Judging from the communication between the central government
and the Dalai Lama, it is obvious that although the Dalai Lama has
changed his tactics, he has not changed his "Tibet independence"
stance and his efforts to split the motherland.
"Tibet has achieved a stable social order and remarkable
economic growth over the past 17 years and the Tibetan people enjoy
a peaceful and happy life, which is hard-earned.
"Social turmoil is a 'hazard' and stability is a 'blessing'.
This is?what the?Tibetan people understand."
(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2006)