(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-26 11:22

The Dalai Lama's elder brother, Gyalo Thondup, explained greater autonomy like this: "Twenty years after greater autonomy, a referendum is to be held in the 'Greater Tibet' region to push Tibet from 'semi-independence' to independence."

The Dalai Lama's long-cherished dream for independence has been seen even by foreign politicians. J. Stapleton Roy, former US Ambassador to China, said in the Human Rights Situation of the Tibetan People on October 14 1987 that "the Administration disavows any support for the Dalai Lama's five-point program", as "neither the United States nor any other member of the United Nations recognizes or has ever recognized Tibet as a sovereign state independent of China".

But the Dalai Lama continued his association with some western countries and criticized China and development in Tibet.

"With the help of international forces, he wants to pressure the Chinese government and force it give in, so as to achieve his goal," said Zhou Yuan, research fellow with the China Tibetology Research Center.

Sometimes, he takes advantage of a favorable international atmosphere, said Zhou, who cited the period from 1989 to 1993 when drastic changes took place in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, the latter of which broke up. During this period, the word "independence" reappeared in the annual March 10 speech.

Therefore, the professor said, the Dalai Lama's appeal for dialogue with the Chinese government has never been and may never be sincere.

As Premier Wen Jiabao pointed out at a press conference earlier this month, the door of dialogue remains open to the Dalai Lama, so long as he gives up "Tibet Independence" and recognizes Tibet and Taiwan as inalienable parts of the Chinese territory.

"We need to watch what the Dalai Lama does. It is up to his actions," Wen said.

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