Dalai Lama envoys say Chinese response unyielding

Dharamsala, Nov 16 : Envoys of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan spiritual leader in-exile said on Sunday that talks with China were a 'total failure' and were unyielding.

The envoys held a news conference in Dharamsala the seat of the Tibetan government in exile after returning from the ninth round of talks with China since 2002 and the first since the Beijing Olympic Games.

One of the representatives said that the talks between China and the Tibetan government in-exile were on the verge of a collapse and that they have not even asked the Chinese government for the next round of talks.

"Did not even this time discuss the possibility of future any rounds (further talks in the future), that's absolutely true because of the current situation, first of all total failure, total failure on the part of the Chinese government to sincerely reciprocate the efforts of his holiness," said Kasur Lodi Gyanltsen Gyari, one of the envoy of Dalai Lama who along with Kelsang Gyaltsen negotiated with the Chinese Government.

The representatives said that they had given their Chinese hosts a 'Memorandum for all Tibetans to enjoy genuine autonomy'.

The two sides had met to try to ease tension in Tibet.

Beijing vilifies the Dalai Lama as a traitor and earlier this year accused him of orchestrating a deadly wave of unrest in Tibet ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

Many Tibetans, especially younger generations, see the talks as a Chinese ploy to delay progress on the question of either independence or regional autonomy for Tibet.

The Dalai Lama fled into exile in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule. He has since lived in India, travelling the world to promote his cause, and is still widely revered in his homeland.

He and other critics of China's rule say it stifles religious and cultural freedom and promotes development that skews wealth and opportunities away from poor Tibetans while encouraging influxes of Chinese labour from other parts.

ANI