China slams PM meeting

Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd and the Dalai Lama meet in Canberra yesterday.
Photo: Glen Mccurtayne

CHINA has reacted angrily to the Prime Minister's decision to meet the Dalai Lama later this week, implying that it could harm diplomatic relations.

In a thinly veiled threat issued just hours after John Howard said he would meet Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry called on Canberra to register Beijing's "strong dissatisfaction and staunch opposition" over the matter.

"The Dalai Lama is not a simple religious figure. He is a long-time political exile engaged in splittist activities and destroying national unity," Qin Gang told journalists in Beijing.

"We hope that the Australian government can deeply recognise this and proceed from the overall interests of maintaining healthy Sino-Australian relations and not allow the Dalai Lama to engage in splittist activities."

Mr Howard announced his decision to see the Dalai Lama as he visited Canberra yesterday as part of a national tour. The Buddhist leader received an unofficial reception in parliament where he highlighted China's human rights abuses in his native Tibet, and called on countries not to shy away from pressing Beijing about its plight.

He later met Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd.

Both Mr Rudd and Mr Howard were initially reluctant to meet him. Mr Rudd changed his mind after Mr Howard accused him of hypocrisy having criticised Foreign Minister Alexander Downer for refusing to see him on a previous tour.

Mr Howard then indicated he was "checking his diary" on the possibility of a meeting, which he finally confirmed yesterday.

Mr Rudd said China's reaction was not surprising.

"I think that's a consistent reaction from Beijing wherever this happens around the world, whether it's the Dalai meeting with President Bush, President Clinton or Prime Minister Blair … obviously these are sensitive issues for the Chinese," he told ABC radio.

Yet Hugh White, a visiting fellow at the Lowy Institute said the strength of China's reaction suggested it was angry with the Government over other issues, including Australia's signing of a security agreement with Japan and quadrilateral security discussions between Japan, Australia, the US and India.

"It's very clear the Chinese have been very angry about the Japanese security agreement," he said. "I suspect the tone of their objection to the Dalai Lama probably reflects that deeper anxiety as well."

Mr Rudd said yesterday that he had postponed a trip to China that he had planned for later this month. His spokesman said the delay had nothing to do with his meeting with the Dalai Lama.

A spokesman for Mr Howard declined to comment on China's response.

With Michelle Grattan and AAP
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/china-slams-pm-meeting/2007/06/12/1181414299988.html

Chinese warn ties in danger

Ben Packham

June 13, 2007 12:00am

Article from:

China warns over PM's Dalai meeting

China is warning Australia to reconsider a meeting between Prime Minister John Howard and the Dalai Lama, implying it could harm diplomatic relations.

Only hours after Mr Howard finally confirmed he would meet the exiled Tibetan religious leader, Beijing fired off a stern message that it wasn't impressed.

Mr Howard had been checking his diary for more than a month before his office finally confirmed that the prime minister would meet the revered religious leader.

"I think their paths will cross at some stage," a spokesman said.

Both Mr Howard and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd have been wary of meeting the popular international figure, mindful of the potential to anger China - Australia's biggest trading partner.

Their fears appear to have been confirmed by China's angry response.

"We have expressed our strong dissatisfaction and staunch opposition to the Australian side for allowing the Dalai Lama to (come to) Australia to engage in splittist activities," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told journalists in Beijing.

Mr Howard's office was not immediately available for comment.

China accused the Buddhist monk of trying to spread an independence agenda for Tibet.

"The Dalai Lama is not a simple religious figure. He is a long-time political exile engaged in splittist activities and destroying national unity," Mr Qin said.

"We hope that the Australian government can deeply recognise this and proceed from the overall interests of maintaining healthy Sino-Australian relations and not allow the Dalai Lama to engage in splittist activities."

But the Dalai Lama told the National Press Club that Tibet wasn't seeking separation or independence - only autonomy - realising it made more economic sense to remain under China's wing.

Mr Rudd, who met the 71-year-old this evening, was not surprised by the Chinese reaction.

"I think that's a consistent reaction from Beijing wherever this happens around the world, whether it's the Dalai meeting with President Bush, President Clinton or Prime Minister Blair ... obviously these are sensitive issues for the Chinese," he told ABC radio.

The Dalai Lama, who was warmly greeted as he travelled around the national capital, had earlier been surprised at the interest the issue of a meeting with Mr Howard was generating.

"In the last few days ... the possible meeting with the prime minister, every news item always mentions that, in my mind it's not that serious but their mind it seems very, very serious," an amused Dalai Lama told the National Press Club.

"For my part, there is no particular agenda to discuss with the prime minister, so if I happen to have the opportunity to meet the prime minister, I can consider him an old friend because once I met (him)," the Dalai Lama told the National Press Club.

"I will be happy (if I can meet Mr Howard) but if not, it doesn't matter."

He urged Australia to use its influence with China to help smooth its transition into the mainstream of the world community.

"While you are making good relations, genuine friendship with China, there are certain principles such as human rights and also democracy, rule of law, free press, these things you should stand firm," he said.

"So that means you are a true friend of China.

"(But if) whatever, they've done, you say: 'Oh good, good, wonderful, wonderful,' then (the) Chinese themselves eventually lose their faith."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/070515/2/13gpy.html

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21896617-2702,00.html

The Dalai Lama is in Bendigo today to bless the biggest Buddhist stupa in the Western world, which is under construction and due to be completed by 2010.

About 2000 people are in the central Victorian city to see the Tibetan religious leader give his blessing to the Buddhist religious monument.

The Dalai Lama, on his second day in Australia, was welcomed by the traditional owners of the land, the Jarra Jarra people, who took him through an Aboriginal smoking ceremony before he entered the stupa.

He also unveiled a four-metre high statue of Guru Rinpoche, the Tibetan saint who brought Buddhism to Tibet.

AAP

Dalai Lama talks about poverty, climate

The Dalai Lama has called on Australians to help reduce the gap between rich and poor and make environmental consciousness a part of their daily lives.

Tenzin Gyato, the 14th Dalai Lama, was speaking in Perth at the start of his 11-day tour of Australia, where he addressed a forum on sustainability and spirituality.

The exiled Tibetan leader told the crowd of several thousand people that humans wrongly think they can control nature when in fact humanity and the environment are interdependent.

The very survival of the earth depended on mankind taking care of the planet, he said.

"Taking care of the environment should be part of our daily life," the Dalai Lama said.

"Using cars, or using electricity, your water, every moment, keep in mind the preservation of energy and resources."

The Buddhist leader said the world's resources must be preserved for future generations.

"The present generation has the moral responsibility to keep sufficient resources for future generations," the exiled Tibetan leader told the crowd of several thousand.

"It is very important."

The Dalai Lama called on the media help raise public awareness of environmental issues, saying political leaders would then follow.

Just as important was the need to reduce poverty, he said.

"The gap between rich and poor is growing, it's huge," he said.

"This is not only morally wrong, but practically it's a source of the problem. We have to reduce this gap."

Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey, who also addressed the forum, said immediate action had to be taken on climate change.

The federal government needed to set greenhouse gas reduction targets, establish a carbon trading scheme and work with business on sustainable development, Mr Godfrey said.

The Dalai Lama will also give a free public talk on ethics in the new millennium before leaving for Victoria on Thursday.

In Bendigo, the Dalai Lama will bless the stupa, or Buddhist mound-like structure, being built outside the town, which when finished will be the biggest stupa in the western world.

During his tour, the Dalai Lama is due to meet Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd, whom he met previously in 2002.

Prime Minister John Howard has said he will check whether there is room in his itinerary.

Dalai Lama not fussed by snub

Exiled Tibetan religious leader, the Dalai Lama, says he's not bothered one way or the other if he is snubbed by Australia's political leaders during his 11-day visit.

The 71-year-old, wearing the traditional Tibetan maroon and gold monk's garb, said he has met the prime minister on a previous visit and if it was not to happen this time, "no problem".

In a 25-minute briefing with the media today, the 14th Dalai Lama said he did not know if a meeting with John Howard would eventuate.

"I hear some say there is a possibility and some say there is no possibility - I don't care," he said.

"If they find it too much of an inconvenience, no problem. I don't want to create inconvenience with anybody."

He agreed that Australia's trade with powerhouse China, which occupies Tibet and counts it as a part of greater China, may come ahead of a meeting with the Dalai Lama and the risk of upsetting the communist government.

"China is a very, very important country, and trade with China is certainly very important," the Tibetan Buddhist leader said.

"So there's no question that is why the prime minister finds it a little difficult (to meet with me) - that's understandable," he said.

The Dalai Lama said he was now in semi-retirement and Tibet had elected political leaders to carry on the struggle for autonomy.

"Our approach is not seeking independence (from China). We are seeking genuine autonomy to preserve Tibetan culture, Tibetan language and the Tibetan environment," he said.

He admitted Tibetan youth are becoming frustrated with the lack of progress in talks with Chinese leaders and feared that if nothing changed in the next 15 years, Tibet could be swallowed up completely.

"Tibetan youth are very frustrated and if the present situation is the same in 15 years then I think Tibet is finished," he said.

Asked for his opinion on stem cell research, the Dalai Lama said he was opened minded.

"Generally any scientific research work is good, provided the motivation and the goal are important," he said.

After the conference, the Dalai Lama was given a police escort to the Rod Laver Arena where he was due to address a multi-faith youth forum for more than 9000 Victorian secondary school students.

Dalai Lama speaks of indigenous inequity

The Dalai Lama says indigenous Australians are not treated as equally as the indigenous people of other countries.

Speaking at the National Press Club on Tuesday, the spiritual leader said indigenous people were more accepted in other countries.

"In New Zealand, the Maoris enjoy, I think, more equal status," the Dalai Lama said.

"In northern Scandinavian countries ... they speak Norwegian very good and they utilise modern facilities and they have their own parliament."

He also encouraged indigenous Australians to embrace modern facilities that are available to them.

"If I had the opportunity to meet some indigenous people then I would say to them please study ... meantime you should utilise some modern facilities including medical facilities."

Labor leader urged to help

The Dalai Lama … meeting.
Photo: Eddie Jim

SUPPORTERS of Tibet's Dalai Lama want the Opposition Leader, Kevin Rudd, to do more than share a cup of tea when he meets the visiting spiritual leader in Canberra tomorrow.

They want Mr Rudd, who speaks Chinese, to discuss using his extensive contacts in Beijing to help Tibet achieve autonomy from Chinese rule.

In a letter to Mr Rudd, the chairman of the Australia Tibet Council, George Farley, wrote: "Given your own experience, expertise and interest in Chinese affairs, we look forward to the outcomes of your meeting with the Dalai Lama with great interest."

If Mr Rudd became prime minister he would be in a position to raise Tibet's future with Chinese leaders.

The office of the Prime Minister will not say whether John Howard will meet the Dalai Lama and offered no comment on the campaign for Tibetan autonomy or complaints about human rights in Tibet.

In the letter to Mr Rudd, Mr Farley says the Dalai Lama's approach would allow Tibet to remain part of the People's Republic of China.

China would be able to keep a limited number of soldiers in Tibet and would retain responsibility for political aspects of international relations and for defence.

The Australia Tibet Council also wants Mr Rudd to discuss with the Dalai Lama how China could be pressed on human rights issues, including in Tibet.

"Despite optimistic predictions made at the time that Beijing was awarded the Olympics, there has been little or no consistent progress made to date," Mr Farley said in the letter to Mr Rudd

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/labor-leader-urged-to-help/2007/06/10/1181414141867.html

Slim pickings for the political Dalai Lama

Tibet will manage ... the Dalai Lama said yesterday Tibet could better handle its own environment and internal affairs.
Photo: AFP

SPIRITUALITY and secular politics overlapped in Canberra yesterday with the Dalai Lama in town, but hopes were dashed that Kevin Rudd, if he became prime minister, would press China over autonomy for Tibet.

The Opposition Leader has postponed indefinitely a trip to China pencilled in for this month. Mr Rudd, who was to take a delegation of frontbenchers and businesspeople, made the announcement last night before meeting the Dalai Lama.

The spiritual leader's visit was overshadowed by a warning China issued soon after the Prime Minister, John Howard, agreed to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader this week. Beijing said it could harm relations.

The Australia Tibet Council had written to Mr Rudd, who speaks Mandarin and was a diplomat in Beijing, asking him to help work towards achieving autonomy for Tibet, which was invaded by China in 1950.

But a spokesman for Mr Rudd said he would not - in opposition or in government - seek to play any direct role in Tibet's future.

Mr Rudd met the Dalai Lama at a Canberra hotel yesterday. "I've met the Dalai Lama as a major world religious figure, and our discussions centred on questions of religion and faith," he said.

In an address to the National Press Club in Canberra yesterday, the Dalai Lama said Tibetans would better manage their own environment and internal affairs, but China could retain control of foreign affairs and defence. "Just to suppress with more military is only a temporary answer," he said. "Our approach is not seeking independence, not seeking separation regardless of past history."

The Greens leader, Bob Brown, welcomed Mr Howard meeting the Dalai Lama.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/slim-pickings-for-the-political-dalai-lama/2007/06/12/1181414305877.html

Dalai Lama visits Steve Irwin's zoo

About 5,000 people have gathered at the late Steve Irwin's Australia Zooon Queensland's Sunshine Coast to hear the Dalai Lama talk about kindness to animals and the environment.

Monks at the 71-year-old exiled Tibetan spiritual leader's Dharamsala monastery are friends with the Irwin family.

Terri Irwin and daughter Bindi have joined with the Dalai Lama at the talk, being held in the zoo's Crocoseum.

The Dalai Lama will also use the visit to launch Kindness Week, a community project initiated by Karuna Hospice Services designed to nurture the spirit of kindness.

On Wednesday afternoon about 15,000 people are expected to fill the Brisbane Entertainment Centre to hear the Dalai Lama speak on the issues of compassion and kindness.

The free tickets were snapped up within two days of becoming available.

Premier Peter Beattie confirmed he would not be meeting the Dalai Lama as he had business on the Gold Coast and will be meeting with visiting New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

But Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce will meet with the spiritual leader.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/070613/2/13qdt.html

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21897976-661,00.html

Dalai Lama visits Irwin's Australia Zoo

Brisbane
June 13, 2007 - 10:50AM

About 5000 people have gathered at the late Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo on Queensland's Sunshine Coast to hear the Dalai Lama talk about kindness to animals and the environment.

Monks at the 71-year-old exiled Tibetan spiritual leader's Dharamsala monastery are friends with the Irwin family.

Terri Irwin and daughter Bindi today joined with the Dalai Lama at the talk, being held in the zoo's 'Crocoseum'.

The Dalai Lama will also use the visit to launch Kindness Week, a community project initiated by Queensland-based palliative care service Karuna Hospice Services.

This afternoon about 15,000 people are expected to fill the Brisbane Entertainment Centre to hear the Dalai Lama speak on the issues of compassion and kindness.

The free tickets were snapped up within two days of becoming available.

Premier Peter Beattie yesterday confirmed he would not be meeting the Dalai Lama as he had business on the Gold Coast and will be meeting with visiting New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

But Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce will meet with the spiritual leader.

Meanwhile, federal coalition MPs have dismissed criticism by the Chinese government of Prime Minister John Howard's decision to meet with the Dalai Lama.

Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd met with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader yesterday and Mr Howard is expected to meet with him later this week.

The Chinese government has expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with the Australian government for holding meetings with the Dalai Lama during his 11-day tour of Australia.

West Australian Liberal MP Don Randall today backed Mr Howard's decision to meet the Dalai Lama.

"I met the Dalai Lama last time he was in Australia and I think he's an absolutely delightful person and we're not going to be stood over by the Chinese," Mr Randall told reporters.

"We don't ever get stood over by some foreign power, certainly not China."

Queensland Liberal MP Cameron Thompson said it was wrong of China to criticise Mr Howard and Mr Rudd for meeting the Dalai Lama.

"I'm glad that they did (meet him) because to a lot of Australians the Dalai Lama is a very important person," Mr Thompson told reporters.

"This guy's the Dalai Lama, it's just not right for a country to say to another, 'You shall not go and talk to that person'. It's just not right."

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown also supported the meetings and said Mr Howard should act as an "honest broker between China and exiled Tibetans".

"Many Australians would like to see John Howard take it a step further and become an honest broker between Beijing and the exiled Tibetans, to get the Tibetan wish for autonomy on the road and to resolve this issue which is now more than half a century old," Senator Brown told reporters.

AAP

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bindi-bags-a-lama/2007/06/13/1181414341920.html

<< Crikey: Buddhism comes to the animals - Dalai Lama visits Australian Croc Hunter's zoo. By DENNIS PASSA - Associated Press Writer

Delicately handling a Burmese python and gingerly petting a frisky koala, the spiritual head of the world's Buddhists visited Australia Zoo and spoke to a sold-out crowd at its open-air, arena-style Crocoseum.

The last time the place was this full was nearly nine months ago during a memorial service for Irwin, the late host of the TV wildlife show "Crocodile Hunter" who died last September when the barb from a stingray pierced his chest while he was diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Dalai Lama thanked Irwin's family for their dedication to wildlife. At the same time, he used the occasion to criticize experimentation on animals and encouraged the 5,000-capacity crowd to become vegetarians.

"Hunting, beef, sheep farms, piggeries, millions, billions, die," said the Dalai Lama. "We can be so cruel to animals."

The hour-long tour of the zoo was a different experience for the Dalai Lama, whose 11-day tour has been politicized, as it often is when he is abroad, by lawmakers concerned about meeting the man China considers an exiled troublemaker.

After weeks of hedging, Prime Minister John Howard agreed to meet with the Dalai Lama on Friday. Howard is anxious not to offend the Chinese government too much because Australia's economy is closely tied to China's booming demand for natural resources and Australia's ability to supply them, but his government also staunchly defends Australia's democracy.

China, which rules Tibet with military force, has used diplomatic pressure to discourage governments from meeting with the Dalai Lama or otherwise showing him support. It immediately criticized Howard's decision to meet with the Tibetan.

On a sunny, but crisp winter morning, the Dalai Lama, with his long traditional red robe flapping in the wind, received a standing ovation as he came on stage at the Crocoseum. Some of the crowd waved Buddhist prayer flags that were purchased at concession stands that normally sell pellets to feed the kangaroos.

Seconds after the Dalai Lama began his speech, almost as if on cue, about a dozen Australian native birds, including black cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets, flew into the stadium.

"I think they were perhaps not ready to leave yet," the Dalai Lama said of the birds, to laughter from the audience.

But most of his off-the-cuff address Wednesday, officially to open "Kindness Week" to animals, was more serious as he criticized companies and organizations that "remain indifferent" to the rights of animals by experimenting on them.

He also spoke of the benefits of vegetarianism, and said he often used to buy animals to save them from slaughterhouses when he was a young man in Tibet.

The Dalai Lama's visit ended when American-born Terri Irwin, Steve's widow, and their children, Bindi and Bob, came on stage, with Bindi carrying a koala.

"He looks lazy, just like me," the Dalai Lama said before presenting the Irwin family with Buddhist scarves.

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=49,4297,0,0,1,0

<< The Dalai Lama was greeted by hundreds of people at Sydney Airport (ABC News)

A long line of monks, Tibetans and well-wishers waited at the airport's arrival terminal this morning to welcome His Holiness.

Many in the crowd wore traditional dress, and held paper lotus flowers - a sign of compassion and peace.

As the Dalai Lama entered the arrivals foyer, the crowd fell silent and bent down to greet the man described as 'a living God.'

"When I say human values, not necessarily with religious faith, but I usually call "secular ethics" such as warm-heartedness and sense of community," he said.

During his stay in Sydney, the Dalai Lama and a number of speakers from Australia and overseas will appear at the International Conference on Happiness and Its Causes.

He will meet John Howard tomorrow afternoon, despite the Prime Minister saying earlier that he would not hold talks with the spiritual leader.

His Holiness will also be a guest at Friday's One Earth Tribute Concert in the Domain.

The Dalai Lama will be in Sydney for three days before heading to New Zealand.

<< The Dalai Lama arrives in Sydney

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader was greeted by about 100 people when he arrived in Sydney today to begin the final leg of his 11-day tour of Australia.

He laughed and offered blessings as he moved past the crowd, which included more than a dozen Buddhist monks in traditional robes and also Tibetan children in traditional dress.

The Buddhist leader said later that his No.1 commitment in the country was the promotion of human values and religious harmony.

"When I said human value, not necessarily religious faith but ... secular ethics such as warm-heartedness and sense of community."

He said that in this age of celebrity and consumerism, more and more young people were becoming interested in what he had to say, because his message about creating a happy life was universal.

"I have nothing special to say, and I'm not a singer, I'm not special," the Dalai Lama said.

"But everybody, whether they are wealthy or poor, everybody wants a happy life, everybody wants a successful life and that is much dependent on peace of mind."

The best way to achieve a happy life, he said, was by ensuring that your mind was calm, through spirituality.

"More stress, more anxiety, more fear is the largest obstacle to happy life," he said.

"A calm mind is very essential. A calm mind you cannot (get) through injection, through buying."

The 71-year-old holy man, who fled into exile when China seized control of Tibet in 1959, said his other commitment was to Tibetan issues.

The Dalai Lama will give a free public talk tomorrow at The Domain, in central Sydney, to be followed by a concert.

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=49,4311,0,0,1,0