| Washington, D.C., Dec. 4, 2000 – Earlier today, in an interview with
the Voice of America and a press conference
marking his 50th anniversary as Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama
confirmed that he has re-established contact with China.
Addressing reporters in Dharamsala, India, where he has lived in exile
with thousands of his followers since 1959, the 65-year-old leader said
that his brother had visited Beijing in late October at the invitation
of Chinese authorities. The brother, Gyalo Thundup, returned with a message
from the Chinese officials, but the Dalai Lama would not reveal its contents.
He did say that he had responded to Beijing by requesting that the Chinese
government allow him to send a delegation into Tibet.
The Dalai Lama, who spent the last five decades trying to draw the world’s
attention to the plight of Tibet, also said that although he had asked
his brother to travel around Tibet during his trip to China, the Chinese
authorities prevented him from doing so.
The Voice of America broadcasts world, regional, and
U.S. news in 53 languages – including 4 hours a day in Tibetan to Tibet
– to an estimated 91 million people each week.
Contact: Joe O’Connell
(202) 619-2538 |
