Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China on Tuesday blamed supporters of the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, for planning and inciting what he described as an “appalling” violence and destruction in Tibet last week.
The Dalai Lama on Tuesday invited international observers, including Chinese officials, to scour his offices here and investigate whether he had any role in inciting the latest anti-Chinese violence in Tibet. He also threatened to resign as leader of Tibet’s government-in-exile in the event of spiraling bloodshed in his homeland.

His spokesperson clarifies:
“If they choose violence as the means to achieve their political ends then the Dalai Lama cannot lead that movement,” says secretary Tenzin Taklha, speaking from Dharamsala in northern India where the Dalai Lama lives in exile.

“He cannot resign as the Dalai Lama. He will die the Dalai Lama.”

The “Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama” sets out three main commitments in the Dalai Lama’s life.

Firstly, “on the level of a human being”, he is committed to promoting of values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline.

Secondly, on the level of a religious practitioner, he is committed to helping bring religious harmony and understanding.

“His third commitment is to the Tibetan issue. His Holiness has a responsibility to act as the free spokesperson of the Tibetans in their struggle for justice,” his office states.

“As far as this third commitment is concerned, it will cease to exist once a mutually beneficial solution is reached between the Tibetans and the Chinese.

“His Holiness will carry on with the first two commitments until his last breath.” -BBC

This post was suggested by my friend Chris who visited Dharamsala, the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in Exile in 1998

Tibetan refugee camp in Nepal in 1998

related:
Getting to Dharamsala

History of the Tibet China conflict

Talking with hunger strikers in New Delhi

This was put online long before current events. The International
Campaign for Tibet’s address has only changed slightly since then I’m
seeing as I research this now – from 1825 K St. NW, Suite 520 to 1825
Jefferson Place NW and the zip code looks like it’s changed from 20006
to 20036.

ICT’s current address listed at the bottom of this page:
http://www.savetibet.org/about/index.php

Filed under: Politics , Demonstrations by gamma