OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Tuesday 10.00pm.
THE Dalai Lama on Tuesday said South Africa should use it’s economic links with Beijing to work towards changing the Chinese government’s attitude towards human rights.
“It is important to have good relations with China but in the meantime on certain issues such as civil rights and democracy and religious freedom, on these matters you should be firm.”
Asked for his reaction to the fact that South African President Thabo Mbeki had not granted him a one-on-one audience as he had requested, the Dalai Lama said it was “no problem.”
Press reports have said Mbeki buckled to pressure from the Chinese government not to meet the Dalai Lama, who is seeking the autonomy of Tibet from China.
Mbeki’s office has denied the reports, saying the president did not have enough time for a one-on-one meeting.
The Tibetan also stopped short of criticising Pretoria for cosying up to Beijing and cutting ties with Taiwan last year.
The Dalai Lama also criticised the Parliament of the World’s Religions which has been meeting in Cape Town for the past week for not contributing enough to world peace.
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader told a media conference that the parliament — which he is due to address on Wednesday — was “not very useful,” adding that it “does not have much meaning.”
While the Dalai Lama said the parliament’s central theme — unity within the diversity of the various religions — was “good”, he added: “I feel that such organisation should make more commitment and, wherever possible, make some contribution for peace.”
The Dalai Lama, who is on a week-long visit to South Africa, said this message would be the main thrust of his address to the almost 7000 delegates when he closes the parliament on Wednesday.
In many of the world’s conflict areas, such as Kosovo and Bosnia, he said, religion formed part of the dispute. — AFP