Who is the Dalai Lama?

For Tibetans, Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is the symbol of their very identity, the individual they steadfastly view as both their religious and political leader.

That the Dalai Lama is also respected and venerated throughout the western world enrages the Chinese government.

The Dalai Lama is visiting the UK this month, where he will be staging talks in London, Oxford and Nottingham. After some prompting by Free Tibet, Prime Minister Gordon Brown agreed to meet the Dalai Lama. However, in a shameful gesture of appeasement to China, Mr Brown arranged the meeting at Lambeth Palace, not Downing Street.

Read our press release on Mr Brown's decision here.
Read our letter to Gordon Brown here.

Revealing the truth

Free Tibet's report 'Revealing the Truth: why China's anti-Dalai Lama campaign must end' was released on Monday 19th May.

According to the 'patriotic education' sessions which Tibetan monks, nuns and laypeople are forced to undergo, the Dalai Lama is "the main source of harm to the stability of Tibetan society". Individuals and groups who meet the Dalai Lama or voice support for the cause of the Tibetan people are dismissed by the Chinese government as members of the 'Dalai clique'. 

Free Tibet's report aims to reveal the truth behind the Chinese government's anti-Dalai Lama campaign. You can read or download the report here.

Statements by the Dalai Lama

Anyone reading the statements and speeches made by the Dalai Lama over the past 50 years can see the efforts the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader has made to be conciliatory in finding a solution to the situation in Tibet. This has again been highlighted during recent events surrounding the Olympic Torch relay.

Click here for transcripts of some of His Holiness' speeches between 1987 and 2008.

Talks between China and representatives of the Dalai Lama: May 2008

Following the widespread protests in both Tibet and across the world in the build-up to the Beijing Olympics, representatives of the Dalai Lama have been engaged in talks with the Chinese authorities.
These talks, however, have not yet born fruit as His Holiness has been accused of 'monstrous conduct' by Beijing.

Read the AFP article of May 4th here.
Read the Voice of America report here.

The Dalai Lama's meeting with Gordon Brown

In March, Free Tibet Campaign wrote to Prime Minister Gordon Brown asking him to meet the Dalai Lama.
We congratulate him for agreeing to do so, but as his predecessors John Major and Tony Blair met the Dalai Lama at Downing Street, we assumed Mr Brown would do the same.

However, Mr.Brown chose to meet the Dalai Lama at Lambeth Palace instead.

Given the prevailing situation in Tibet at the moment, Free Tibet Campaign felt that a meeting between the Prime Minister and the Dalai Lama at Lambeth Palace was entirely inappropriate.

Please write to your MP asking Mr.Brown to stand up for Tibet now that he has sat down and talked to the Dalai Lama. By approaching your own MP, who is accountable to you, you will be adding your voice to the call for the Tibet issue to be given the time and effort it deserves by our leaders.
If you want to find your MP's name and address, please go to www.writetothem.com

 

The Dalai Lama and other world leaders

The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama spends much of his time meeting with world leaders and political figures in an effort to highlight the situation in Tibet in a peaceful and diplomatic manner.

Recently, the Chinese authorities have reacted harshly to these meetings, labeling Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's meeting with the Dalai Lama 'disgusting conduct'. and summoning the German Ambassador in Beijing to complain when the Tibetan leader met Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Angela Merkel responded:
"As the chancellor of Germany, I will decide on whom to meet and where."

The Dalai Lama has stated:
"wherever I go, China protest. The Chinese are simply testing how far they can go."

 
 

The Dalai Lama and his position on Tibetan autonomy

After the latest round of talks between represntatives of the Dalai Lama and those of the Beijing government, Chinese officials have declared that they will 'never' grant autonomy to Tibet.
Below you will find links to news stories on this development (November 2008)

TORONTO STAR: Tibet hopes of autonomy dealt a big blow
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE: Dalai Lama and the Tibet question- time for a new approach?
GLOBE & MAIL: Senior Chinese leaders taunt Dalai Lama, speaking of his passing
AFP: Dalai Lama still wants talks with China, say aides
WALL STREET JOURNAL: Beijing increases rhetoric against Tibetan exiles
GUARDIAN: China snubs Dalai Lama calls for high autonomy for Tibet
BOSTON HERALD: China says no progress made in Tibet talks
VOICE OF AMERICA: China blames Dalai Lama for lack of Tibet progress

The Dalai Lama recieves the US Congressional Gold Medal

In a high-profile public ceremony on 17 October 2007, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the top US civilian honour. This adds to the Nobel Peace Prize His Holiness was awarded in 1989.

The honour was presented by George Bush; the first time a sitting US President has appeared in public with the Tibetan spiritual leader. Mr. Bush hailed the Dalai Lama as "a universal symbol of peace and tolerance".

China's reaction was immediate. Government spokesman Liu Jianchao said:
"China is strongly resentful of this and resolutely opposes it."

Video: The Dalai Lama is awarded the US Congressional Gold Medal in 2007