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Dalai Lama re-establishes
contact with China: Reuters

The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader fighting to free his homeland from Chinese rule imposed in 1950, said on Monday he has re-established contact with Beijing, the Voice of America reported in Washington.

The U.S.-funded international broadcasting service said the Dalai Lama told reporters at a news conference in Dharamsala, India, where he has lived in exile with thousands of followers since 1959, that his brother had visited Beijing in late October at the invitation of the Chinese authorities.

The brother, Gyalo Thundup, returned with a message from China's communist leadership, but the Dalai Lama would not reveal its contents, the VOA reported.

The Dalai Lama said he responded to the message by requesting the Chinese government to allow him to send a fact-finding delegation to Tibet, VOA said, citing his remarks at the news conference and in an interview with VOA.

Asked by reporters whether the renewed contact may represent a change in Beijing's attitude towards him, the Dalai Lama said it was too early to tell, according to the VOA report, which was also posted on the VOA website http://www.voanews.com.

He also said he asked his brother to travel around Tibet during his visit to China, but the Chinese authorities had prevented him. VOA provided no direct quotes from the Dalai Lama, instead paraphrasing his remarks.

China has called the Dalai Lama a separatist, and routinely criticises countries that allow him visits. It also blocked his appearance at a world summit of religious leaders held at the United Nations in New York in September, saying he was a "troublemaker" who must be kept away.

Earlier at the Dharamsala, the Tibetan spiritual and political leader was joined by other Buddhist leaders and followers as they marked his 50th anniversary as Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama fled to northern India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

While his government-in-exile has no international recognition, the Dalai Lama's non-violent campaign to free Tibet won him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, and has garnered widespread international sympathy and financial support.

In recent years, the Dalai Lama has softened his original demands for Tibet's independence from China, saying he is willing to accept autonomy if that will help to preserve Tibetan culture.

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