(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-01 20:24

BEIJING - The Dalai clique is trying to make the upcoming Olympic Games its hostage by tying it to the Tibet issue, said a commentary published in Tuesday's Global Times.

"The Dalai clique tries to talk some countries into linking the Tibet issue with the Beijing Olympic Games for they think the Olympics might be their last chance," said the article written by Yi Duo in the Beijing-based newspaper.

The article listed three news reports on the Dalai clique's website.

On December 18, the Dalai Lama said during a visit to Italy that China deserved to host the Olympic Games but it needed to take into account criticism raised by foreign governments and international organizations about its human rights record, religious freedom and environmental protection.

On December 20, he told Cicero, a Germany-based magazine, that the Beijing Olympic Games would be a good chance to remind people of the Tibet issue.

In his speech on the anniversary of the so-called "Tibet uprising" in 1959 on March 14, he said, "Besides sending their athletes, the international community should remind the Chinese government of these issues (freedom of speech and expression). I have come to know that many parliaments, individuals and non-governmental organizations around the globe are undertaking a number of activities in view of the opportunity that exists for China to make a positive change. I admire their sincerity".

"Even if the Dalai Lama himself just wanted to link the Games with the Tibet issue, his followers and supporters made their intentions very clear," said the article.

Lordain, chairman of the working department of "2008 Free Tibet Movement", said in December 2004, "People around the world will pay close attention to China (for the Olympics) and that gives us a unique opportunity to bring political pressure to the Chinese government".

In September, the "Tibet Youth Congress (TYC)", a hard-line organization under the Dalai Lama's supporters that openly preaches violence, passed a decision to mobilize as many as Tibetans living outside China, especially those in North America, to return to Tibet during the Games, the article said.

Karma Qoipei, "speaker" of the "Tibetan parliament-in-exile", said on February 7, "We should seize the chance of the Beijing Olympic Games, launch activities and force the Chinese government to solve the Tibet issue in 2008 or within the next two years".

   1 2   

   1 2