Australian Lawmakers Visit Dalai Lama In India

The Dalai Lama in Dharamsala (file photo)
Chinese government has reacted angrily to a meeting between Australianlawmakers and the Dalai Lama in India. It's the first time Australianmembers of parliament have traveled to the sub-continent to visit theTibetan spiritual leader.
 
TheChinese Embassy in Canberra says the visit of Australian politicians tothe Dalai Lama is a gross case of interference in China's internalaffairs.
 
Tibet's spiritual leader spent more than an hour withmembers of the first parliamentary delegation from Australia to visithim in Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama's home in exile.

He thankedthe cross-party group of MPs and senators for their support. "Usually Idescribe our supporters, not like pro-Tibetan, but rather pro-justice,"said the Dalai Lama.
 
The Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel PeacePrize in 1989 for his opposition to the use of violence in his pursuitof self-rule for Tibet. The Chinese government, which has controlledthe region more than 50 years, says it has enhanced both livingstandards and human rights there.
 
Beijing sees the Dalai Lamaas a "splittist," although the Tibetan leader has stated that his goalis for autonomy for his troubled home rather than independence.
 
Somemembers of the Australian delegation that met with the Dalai Lama inIndia hope to travel to Tibet later this year, during an official visitto China.
 
Such a plan could again inflame sensitivities between Beijing and Canberra.
 
Australianlawmaker Michael Danby says he thinks that assurances have been givento Canberra by the Chinese to allow the planned trip to go ahead.
 
"Ifthe parliament asks the Chinese government to allow this group to go, Idon't see why they shouldn't be, he said. "They would be breakingtheir word and I'm sure the Chinese government wouldn't like to be seento be doing that."
 
The Dalai Lama traveled to Australia lastyear. Authorities in Canberra said the trip and a series of officialfunctions and speeches, in which he met senior government figures,reflected the Dalai Lama's status as a religious leader and not apolitical activist.