Dalai Lama was in Brussels to give evidence at a hearing held by the Political Affairs Committee into human rights in Tibet.

hearing

DALAI LAMA

Tibetan question (T)

Hearing with His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama on the situation of Human rights in Tibet: extracts

SOUNDBITE (English) Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Yes. I am Dalai Lama, not come through election, not come through mysterious things.

SOUNDBITE (English) Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Two and a half years ago, I proposed a five point peace plan for Tibet, which I elaborated on during a visit to the European Parliament in 1988. Although the Chinese initially agreed to hold negotiations with major facilitators at a place and time of my choosing. They have found one reason or another always evaded giving a direct response. We have yet to receive a constructive response from the Chinese.

SOUNDBITE (English) Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, There's a sense that the Chinese government, you see, as you find some excuse in order to start genuine dialogue. So you see, last April, I made a suggestion to the Chinese government, to the Chinese embassy in New Delhi, in order to remove this obstacle. I'm preparing to send a few people to Hong Kong to meet some Chinese representative.

SOUNDBITE (English) Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, What is the real obstacle to start a dialogue? So is it to remove the obstacle, to the the Chinese government showing the interest to have dialogue with us about the future of Tibet. So you see if Chinese site show a conciliatory attitude towards Tibetan then we Tibetan respond accordingly.

SOUNDBITE (English) Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, On the contrary, Chinese more pressure, bring more soldier. Now, unfortunately, according to the sending information, the Chinese government decided to increase more army in Tibet some from Sejong area, some from other parts of China. So in any way, if you see this repressive measure intensified there in enough to see in reality more negative attitude will develop.

SOUNDBITE (English) Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Now, for example, you see since Chinese occupied our land now 40 years and particularly since 59. Now 31 years. During these years, if Chinese government showing genuine sort of friendship, friendly attitude towards Tibetan, then today, picture definitely would be different. But because of this attitude now, this present, unpleasant, unpleasant situation happened. So therefore, I feel the demilitarise that is, I think, a very crucial factor for development of genuine harmony, genuine friendship between Tibetan and Chinese.