14 April 2008
Dalai Lama fears more Chinese force
(AP) The Dalai Lama has said that Tibet cannot make any more concessions to China and renewed his calls for the government to cease suppression and withdraw troops. He once again denied Chinese claims that he has called for Tibet to be split from China and that he is behind recent turmoil, saying instead that he is committed to pursuing Tibet's right to autonomy. "The whole world knows that the Dalai Lama is not seeking independence, nor separation", he said at a news conference. "Our struggle is with a few in the leadership of the People’s Republic of China and not with the Chinese people", he said in a statement released after the news conference. "If the present situation in Tibet continues, I am very much concerned that the Chinese government will unleash more force and increase the suppression of Tibetan people". He said that if China stops such suppression and withdraw armed police and troops, he would advise all Tibetans to stop their protests. He also repeated his promise to resign should the violence in Tibet continue.