By Li Xiaokun (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-02 07:18

The Dalai Lama must stop immediately all separatist and sabotage activities if he wants to initiate talks, a government official said Tuesday.

"Although the Dalai Lama has kept saying he wants to contact and consult with the central government, he has also been creating social chaos and disturbing the Beijing Olympics, which is heartily anticipated by people and athletes around the world.

"This has severely undermined the foundation for any talks," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.

She was commenting on an open letter issued by the Dalai Lama on Friday, in which he portrayed himself as a "simple monk" trying to preserve "the Tibetan people's distinctive culture, language and identity" and expressed willingness to hold talks with the central government.

"If the Dalai Lama really wants to contact and consult with the central government and become 'a member of the big family' of the homeland, he should immediately stop all violent activities, stop all activities that disturb and sabotage the Beijing Games, and stop all activities designed to separate Tibet from China," Jiang said.

Given the enormous human cost and the huge amount of damage done to property during the recent riots, the letter describing the Dalai Lama as a supporter of "nonviolence" is a total lie, Jiang said, adding that the Dalai clique's efforts to disassociate themselves from the Lhasa riots are in vain.

Over the past 50 years, the Dalai clique has continuously distorted history, instigated conflict and contradictions among Chinese people of different nationalities, destroyed social stability and sought "Tibet independence", Jiang said.

On the subject of the Dalai's visits to other countries, Jiang said China resolutely objects to any governmental official of any country in any name or manner conniving with or supporting the Dalai clique's separatist activities.

She also criticized some Western media and politicians for urging foreign leaders to boycott the Beijing Olympics, saying that the only reason foreign politicians should be at the Games is to support their athletes, and not as a show of support for China.

"We should not suggest that by attending the Games foreign leaders are singing China's praises, nor that by not attending are they trying to isolate China," Jiang said.

"In the past, some political leaders attended the event and some did not. It's a common occurrence. There's no need to hype it up," she said.

"Anyone who seeks to use this grand occasion as an arena for their political agenda has chosen the wrong place and will ultimately bring humiliation upon themselves," she said.