77. Tibet gov't-in-exile representatives negotiate with Beijing

Kyodo - February 15, 2006

BEIJING - A delegation from the Tibetan government-in-exile began meetings with Chinese officials in Beijing on Wednesday to push for more autonomy for Tibetans living under Chinese rule. Two Tibetan representatives, led by special envoy Lodi Gyari, and two senior aides arrived in Beijing on Wednesday from India for the fifth round of talks over the past four years, said Tema Tsering, the government-in-exile's ambassador to India. He said they would stay in China for seven to 10 days. Delegation members, essentially representatives of the Dalai Lama, who Beijing sees as a separatist, hope to hold "substantial discussions" with China on the Tibetan issue, according to Tsering. "This kind of talk is very difficult to predict, but (the purpose) is to move the process forward," Tsering said. % Although they are not pushing for an independent Tibet, Tsering said, the negotiators hope to talk Beijing into more "genuine autonomy" for the Tibetan region, which China integrated in 1951. Tibetans loyal to the Dalai Lama, their spiritual leader, have been sent to prison for expressing support for him. % Tenzin Geyche Tethong, secretary to the Dalai Lama, said in a statement Wednesday that the Dalai Lama was satisfied with the continuing talks in China. The Dalai Lama appointed the negotiators on Monday. % "His Holiness is pleased that the present round of talks is the longest process of continued interaction that have had with the leadership in Beijing," the statement says. "For the last four meetings, the envoys have had very candid and serious discussion with their counterparts in the Chinese leadership."