US rejects China's charges against Dalai Lama

Washington, Apr 2: The Bush Administration has rejected China's new set of charges against Dalai Lama and reiterated its plea to Beijing to resume negotiations with the Tibet's spiritual leader. China yesterday called the Dalai Lama a ''wolf in monk's robes'' and his followers the ''scum of Buddhism,'' accusing the Nobel Peace laureate and his supporters of planning suicide attacks. When asked if the US agreed with these allegations, State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey, said, ''No. That's the simple answer.'' Talking to newsmen yesterday, he described the Dalai Lama as a ''man of peace'' and said there was absolutely no indication that he wanted to do anything other than having a dialogue with China to discuss how to deal with some of the serious issues there.

Mr Casey said, ''We continue to encourage the Chinese to engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama and his representatives. I think that is the most effective way for these issues to be managed in the long term.'' Asked whether he thought China's allegations about suicide plots meant it was refusing all calls to open a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, Casey remarked, ''Well, I hope not.'' ''In the short term we continue to urge the Chinese government to exercise restraint in terms of dealing with any protests that are out there,'' he said The US official praised Dalai Lama as ''an individual who is a man of peace, and someone who supports a nonviolent process of dialogue and discussion to resolve these issues. And hopefully this won't be the last word from the Chinese government with respect to him.''

UNI