Official dismisses calls for Dalai Lama's return

Beijing, June 20: Tibet's top government official defendedChinese rule in the Himalayan region today and dismissed calls by aveteran Tibetan Communist for the Dalai Lama to return home.

Reuters exclusively obtained letters sent by Phuntso Wangye toPresident Hu Jintao from 2004 to 2006 in which the 84-year-old formermember of parliament called for the Dalai Lama's return and condemnedhawks for thriving on their opposition to the spiritual leader of thepredominantly Buddhist region.

The letters, which Reuters made public for the first time inMarch, revealed a debate in China's high political circles on thepossible return of the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in India in 1959after an abortive uprising.

Asked to comment today on Phuntso's letters, Qiangba Puncog,chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Government, said:''I feel his views do not represent that of the Tibetan people ...

but represent the thinking of very few people.'' Phuntso ledChinese advance troops into his homeland in 1951, and acted asinterpreter at a 1954 meeting between the Dalai Lama and Mae Zedong inBeijing. Later purged, he spent 18 years in solitary confinement beforehis political rehabilitation.

Qiangba Puncog defended Chinese rule in Tibet, saying grossdomestic product hit 29 billion yuan (3.8 billion dollar) in 2006, upmore than 12 per cent year-on-year for six consecutive years.

Per capita GDP exceeded 10,000 yuan for the first time last year,he said. Net income of farmers and herders had seen double-digit growthfor the fourth year in a row and now stood at 2,435 yuan (320 dollar).

Reuters

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