Politicians split on meeting, but Dalai Lama not "Splittist"

Lhamo Dhondrub, the 13th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, and 1989 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, is surely delighted to finally get the thumbs up from both Little Johnny and two-bob-each-way Kev in Australia. Not only will the Dalai Lama meet the south Pacific’s sheriff and sheriff-in-waiting, but he also secured a seat with George Negus on Australia's Dateline.

The interview made for some interesting viewing, with the Dalai Lama asserting he is not a "splittist", despite reports across media worldwide that Chinese officials claim he is. In fact, he understood that Johnny and Kev might not want to see him because of a booming resources trade and a potential FTA with China. "Of course. Their relations with China, good relations with China is certainly important," he said.

Well, it didn't take Mr Negus long to move onto issues more pressing than whether Johnny or Kev wanted to sip green tea with him. He quizzed the Dalai Lama with, "The Chinese Communist Party regard you as one of the most reviled people. They have accused you of waging a clandestine campaign for Tibetan independence, that you have been fomenting revolution. In fact, on that basis they actually warned Mr Howard and Mr Rudd not to see you because you were not the kind of person they should see. How do you react to that sort of description of you from the Chinese?"

In reply the Dalai Lama said, "I think many people knows what I am thinking. The whole world knows I am not seeking independence, therefore is many Tibetan disappointed, and also some of our supporters ... And also the Chinese officials whom, you see, our delegations have met, they have also, you see, acknowledged the Dalai Lama is not - for the future is concerned - the Dalai Lama's side is not seeking independence. Now, they have acknowledged. But the other side, the officials, also you see they're using that same sort of accusation continuously. I think there must be some reasons."

So His Holiness is not seeking independence, and makes quite a rational argument as to why not. He goes on in the interview to say, "Firstly, Tibet case - materially, backward country. Spiritually, yes, now many people knows Tibetans in spiritual field are very, very advanced but in material field is very, very backward. Meantime, every Tibetan is want modernised Tibet. No single Tibetan dreaming return of previous sort of backwardness, therefore as far as economy development is concerned, Tibet remain within the People's Republic of China, we will get greater benefit." So the Dalai Lama basically wants to jump on the China bandwagon and use this prosperity for the benefit of the people living in Tibet. Seems like a reasonable and rationale path to head up.

Negus questions some more, and the Dalai Lama suggests he thinks this is the best way forward, especially if the Chinese can respect Tibetan culture. Surely, this is not a huge ask and probably a net gain for the Chinese in regards to future revenue from tourism. And one assumes that China identifies this factor, hence the train line recently built into Lhasa.

When Negus asked for the Dalai Lama's opinion of the Chinese leadership, he encouragingly replied with, "I always, you see, sort of summarise the Chairman Mao's era, Deng Xiaoping's era, and Jiang Zemin's era and Hu Jintao era - if you look at the government in these different eras, it shows the people or leadership are more practical, so they acting according to the new reality, so therefore there is some business to trust them."

So the Dalai Lama has some level of trust for the Chinese, and he claims not to be a "splittist" but simply wants autonomy which allows for Tibetan culture to live on. So, with this in mind he sums up his position: "The present sort of situation is actually no benefit either to China or Tibet, particularly the President, Hu Jintao, very much emphasis importance of harmony. Absolutely, I agree. The policy based on harmony is very essential but, you see, the harmony must come from within, from heart not just lip-service or from under gun, therefore my approach, middle approach is the best way to achieve genuine harmony on the basis of trust."

Finding a harmonious way forward is essential. as Tibetan culture is under threat, and if the threat isn't mitigated, it could be a sorry future for this beautiful oasis is the mountains. The Dalai Lama explains, "There is real danger. Now, for example, the population of Lhasa - our capital - there's about 300,000 - 100,000 Tibetan, about 200,000 are Chinese. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place because now they have people in the younger generation in Lhasa, the overwhelming Chinese population. The Tibetan language now, not much useful. And their sort of daily life becoming more like Chinese."

Cultural genocide! Strong words, surely to upset some, but you can't argue that Tibetan culture isn't at threat of being diluted to the point of extinction by the growing Chinese influence in Tibet. Nobody can argue that Tibetan culture isn't worth saving, so let's hope with China's economy continuing to mature, that leadership on both sides of the Tibetan-Chinese table also start to show some maturity and find a mutually beneficial and harmonious way of sorting out the future of Tibet.

Why is it reported so often that the Chinese continue to consider the Dalai Lama a "splittist" when he consistently voices the contrary? Is Tibetan culture doomed? Will Australia be adversly affected by having its head of government and opposition leader sit with His Holiness?