Dalai Lama Supports Games in China and Peaceful Protests

By Anastacia Mott Austin

The Dalai Lama, speaking to reporters, emphasized that he has no ill will toward the Chinese people and supports their wish to host the Olympics.

But he also said that he supports pro-Tibetan protesters to make a stand and have their voices heard, as long as the demonstrations are peaceful.

At a press conference at the Tokyo airport, he said, "We are not anti-Chinese. Right from the beginning, we supported the Olympic Games."

But he also said that no one had the right to "shut up" the protesters.

After rocky receptions in London, Paris, and San Francisco, the Olympic torch relay continues on its 19-city journey back to Beijing. Supporters of Tibet have seen the torch ceremonies as the perfect platform to express their feelings about China’s oppression of Tibet. Many demonstrators have said their aim was to get their message heard in a peaceful way.

Protesters in Buenos Aires, where the torch is set to go next, have said they have no intention of becoming violent. "We won't engage in any violence and we won't try to snuff out the torch," said Jorge Carcavallo, a representative of the group Free Tibet, to reporters. "We'll be handing out leaflets to people along the relay route. We want to pressure the Chinese to talk with the Dalai Lama."

Echoing the torch protests, thousands of pro-Tibetan demonstrators gathered in New Delhi this week, carrying on their shoulders the fake "bodies" of 154 people who they say were killed during the uprising in Tibet’s capital city of Lhasa last month.

Protests and demonstrations have continued unabated since the clash between the Tibetan people and pro-government forces. "This past one month is historic in the history of Tibetan freedom struggle," said Tenzin Tsundue, a pro-Tibet activist, to the press. "These protests have solidified the Tibetan community, in and outside Tibet, as never before. They are willing to sacrifice anything now."

Many world government leaders have received increasing pressure from their people to boycott China’s hosting the Games, or at least refuse to attend the opening ceremonies. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that he will not be present at the opening ceremonies. However, he is planning to attend the closing ceremonies.

President Bush is reportedly mulling over whether or not to appear at the opening ceremonies. Presidential candidates Obama and Clinton have both urged Bush to not appear. "If the Chinese do not take steps to help stop the genocide in Darfur and to respect the dignity, security, and human rights of the Tibetan people, then the president should boycott the opening ceremonies," said Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton agrees, saying Bush should boycott at least the opening ceremonies. Republican candidate John McCain has said that Bush should "keep an open mind" about the situation.

The government of China blames the Dalai Lama for the recent protests and the uprising last month in Lhasa. He has steadfastly responded that he bears no ill will against China or its people, but that Tibet needs to have real freedom.

Responding to the government’s claim that the people of Tibet are essentially autonomous, the Dalai Lama responded, "Autonomy is just in name. It is not sincerely implemented."