Dalai Lama admits Tibet autonomy drive has failed

The Dalai Lama said Monday that the drive for greater autonomy for Tibet has ended in failure, urging Tibetans to be open to all options in negotiations with Beijing over the region’s future.

The exiled leader is on a weeklong visit to Japan for talks on spirituality as the latest negotiations between his envoys and Chinese officials were due to begin in Beijing.

He also hinted at his retirement and said he would ask Tibetans whether to continue the ancient tradition of appointing his successor by recognising his reincarnation.

“My trust in the Chinese government has become thinner, thinner, thinner. Suppression (in Tibet) is increasing and I cannot pretend that everything is OK,” the Dalai Lama told a press conference here.

“I have to accept failure. Meantime among Tibetans in recent years, our approach failed to bring positive change inside Tibet, so criticism has also increased. So there is no other alternative than to ask people,” he added.

The Dalai Lama is calling a meeting later this month among Tibetans to decide on a future strategy towards the Chinese government, which accuses him of instigating unrest and secessionist ambitions in Tibet.

Source: The Daily Star