Seeking greater autonomy for Tibet, not independence: Dalai Lama

Dharamsala, Nov 4 : Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has once again refuted China's claims that he wants independence for Tibet and clarified that he is only seeking greater autonomy.

"I am not demanding independence for Tibet. I am only seeking genuine autonomy as enshrined in the constitution of People's Republic of China," the Nobel Peace laureate told reporters in Japan Tuesday, according to a post on the website of the Tibetan government-in-exile here.

"The last five decades in exile have proved as an opportunity to preserve the Tibetan cultural heritage, which remains in a more pristine form in exile than in Tibet," the Dalai Lama said at Shikoku Island.

"At present, there is a healthy community of over 160,000 Tibetans in exile, and a new younger generation, equipped with basic modern education is emerging to take responsibilities."

"Personally, I met a lot of people in the last 50 years and learned a lot from them. It has been a very rewarding experience," he said.

Expressing his hope in the Chinese people, the spiritual leader said the number of articles and commentaries critical of China's policies on Tibet in the past one year by Chinese scholars and intellectuals were encouraging signs.

On his first visit to Shikoku Island, he said that he felt fortunate at being able to make pilgrimage to the holy temples in Japan.

"There were many people at the temples when I offered prayers. They looked happy, I am also happy," he said.

He began his week-long visit to Japan Oct 30 at the invitation of the Shikoku Buddhist Association and Okinawa Mahabodhi Association.

Earlier, the spiritual leader asked the international community to visit Tibet to know the plight of the Tibetans.

"I strongly appeal to the international community, especially the media, to go to China and Tibet and investigate the reality of the situation," the spiritual leader told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan.

The Dalai Lama, 74, has been following a "middle-path" policy that seeks greater autonomy for Tibetans rather than complete independence.

However, the Chinese view him as a hostile person bent on splitting Tibet from China. Beijing frowns upon meetings between the Dalai Lama and foreign leaders.

The Dalai Lama along with many of his supporters fled Tibet and took refuge in India when Chinese troops moved in and took control of Lhasa in 1959.

The Dalai Lama has ever since been heading the Tibetan government-in-exile from here.