(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-30 15:47

The Dalai Lama released a statement via his personal secretariat on March 14, in which violent actions were described as "peaceful protests". On the same day, the "Tibetan government-in-exile" defined the riots in another statement as peaceful demonstrations by Tibetans to protest Chinese policies.

In commenting to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on March 16, the Dalai Lama said, when prompted, that he would not ask the rioters to stop.

The Chinese government later released film and photographs showing the violent attacks that took place during the riot in Lhasa, which have been regarded as a contradiction to the vaunted "peaceful image" of the Dalai Lama.

On the advice of his supporters, the Dalai Lama changed his tune at a press conference on March 18, when he said that he should not have created an anti-Chinese mood in the international arena. The only option would be his retirement if the situation got out of control, the Dalai Lama said.

His comments were soon seen by the international community as an admission that he had a responsibility for the riots in Lhasa.

BEIJING OLYMPICS

After Beijing won a bid for hosting the 29th Summer Olympic Games in 2008, Dalai clique claimed that it would be a "decisive battle" to seek for "Tibet Independence" by interfering the Olympics.

Chairman of the working department of "2008 Free Tibet Movement" Lordain said in December 2004, "People around the world will pay close attention to China (for Olympics) and that gives us a unique opportunity to bring political pressure to Chinese government."

On February 7 of this year, Gama Qoinpe, "Speaker of the Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies" said that they should make use of the opportunity to compel Chinese government to resolve the Tibet issue in 2008 or within future two years.

In recent two years, the Dalai Lama and his followers have launched a series of Olympics-related actions for the above-mentioned purpose:

-- Members of "Students for a Free Tibet (SFT)" raised banners of "Tibet Independence" to boycott Beijing Olympics at the base camp of the Mount Qomolangma in April 2007.

-- In May, Dalai clique declared that it will hold "Tibetan Olympics" in Dharamsala and established a "organizing committee" for it.

-- Dalai clique's "Network of International Support to Tibet" also built an athlete "delegation" consisting of Tibetans living outside China and requested International Olympic Committee to allow them to "participate in the Beijing Olympics on behalf of Tibet".

-- The "TYC" decided to launch a "Death Torch" relay in April from Dharamsala to New Delhi, India's Capital.

-- Head of Dalai clique's "Tibet Independence Movement" has said that The Beijing Olympics is an important timing for international communities to press Chinese government to improve human rights, continue dialogs with the Dalai Lama and peacefully resolve the Tibet issue. Tibetans living everywhere should participate in the fighting, he said.

 

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