The Dalai Lama responded yesterday to Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, who made a strong statement earlier in the morning accusing the Dalai Lama of instigating the current unrest in the region. “There is ample fact and plenty of evidence proving this incident was organised, premediated, masterminded and incited by the ‘Dalai clique'”, Wen told a meeting in Beijing which included international press, without providing specific evidence. Headded, “This has all the more revealed the consistent claims by the ‘Dalai clique’ that they pursue not independence, but peaceful dialogue, are nothing but lies.”<\/p>\n
In a statement published online, the Dalai Lama said: “I believe the demonstrations and protests taking place in Tibet are a spontaneous outburst of public resentment built up by years of repression in defiance of authorities that are oblivious to the sentiments of the local populace. They mistakenly believe that further repressive measures are the way to achieve their declared aim of long-term unity and stability. On our part, we remaincommitted to taking the Middle Way approach and pursuing a process of dialogue in order to find a mutually beneficial solution to the Tibetan issue.”<\/p>\n