Tutu seeks India's help for freedom of Tibet

New Delhi, Jan 31 (UNI) South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu today caused acute embarrassment to India at a function where he was awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize by seeking New Delhi's support for ''bringing about the freedom of Tibet.'' In his speech of acceptance at the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan after receiving the honour from President A P J Abdul Kalam, the Nobel peace laureate also wanted India to help restore democracy in Myanmar and secure the release of jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Minutes after Archbishop Tutu had made the remark, a top government functionary sought to distance India from the controversy, stating that New Delhi had nothing to do with the views of Desmond Tutu.

''As far as we are concerned Tibet is an autonomous region of China. There is no change in our stand that there is only one China,'' the functionary said, requesting for anonymity.

India had recognised Tibet as an autonomous region of China in June 2003 during the visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Beijing. Simultaneously, China accepted the accession of Sikkim and agreed to correct its official map showing the Northeastern state as part of India.

UNI