The Hindu : Front Page : Do not allow separatist activities: China

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Friday, Nov 14, 2008
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Do not allow separatist activities: China

Beijing: As the Dalai Lama, Tibetan spiritual leader, prepared to hold the biggest conclave of exiled Tibetans in nearly six decades at Dharamshala, China on Thursday asked India to honour its promise of not allowing any separatist activities from its soil against it.

Dismissing as meaningless the proposed meeting of the exiled Tibetans, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Beijing expected New Delhi to honour its promise not to permit activities “aimed at splitting Chinese territory.”

“The Indian government has made solemn commitments on several occasions that [it] does not allow any activities on its soil aimed at dividing [China],” Mr. Qin said.

“We hope that this commitment can be fulfilled,” he said while responding to a question on the November 17-22 meeting at a biweekly press briefing.

In the wake of repeated failures to find a solution to the vexed Tibetan issue during talks with China, the Dalai Lama, 73, has convened a six-day meeting to determine the future direction of his quest for “genuine autonomy” for his Himalayan homeland under Chinese sovereignty.

But Mr. Qin claimed the meeting was aimed at achieving Tibet’s independence from Chinese rule. “The Chinese government is solemnly against any international activities aimed at splitting China.”

“Any attempt to plan or be involved in this meeting cannot represent the vast majority of the Tibetan people and their attempt will get nowhere,” Mr. Qin said. — PTI

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