City MP: ‘The Dalai Lama is an inspiration’

May 23 2008 by David James, South Wales Echo

CITY MP Julie Morgan has spoken of her hope that Prime Minister Gordon Brown can help bring peace to Tibet.

Mr Brown has been criticised for a lack of action over the Himalayan region which has been wracked with violence during its struggle for autonomy from China.

The Dalai Lama has said that Britain has not done enough to support Tibet

Cardiff North MP Ms Morgan met the nation’s exiled spiritual leader before his meeting with the Prime Minister today. She said: “The Dalai Lama remains optimistic that Tibet may finally secure the autonomy that it craves and that I hope it achieves. He is very much committed to autonomy, not independence from China, and has peacefully pursued this middle way for many years.

“What is so striking and inspiring about the Dalai Lama is his good-humoured hope and his determination and his complete commitment to peace and non-violence. He is an inspiring figure.

“I’m very pleased that the Prime Minister will be meeting him at the end of the week and I hope that resolution is reached soon about Tibet.

“The Dalai Lama’s cause is a just one and one that I am proud to support in whatever way I can.”

Labour leader Mr Brown has been criticised for meeting the Dalai Lama at the Archbishop of Canterbury’s official residence, Lambeth Palace, rather than giving him the honour of a meeting in Downing Street.

The Dalai Lama said this made no difference to him but, speaking to the All Parliamentary Group on Tibet yesterday, he criticised Britain for not doing enough to help Tibet.

He warned that his people were facing a form of “cultural genocide” at the hands of the Chinese government, which is trying to quash the cause of Tibetan autonomy by settling Chinese citizens in Tibetan capital Lhasa.

He said: “Whether intentional or unintentional, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place.”

david.james@mediawales.co.uk