Tutu urges China to grant autonomy to Tibet
- 12 years ago
Hundreds gather in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala to hear South African archbishop and Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu urge China to grant autonomy to Tibet.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHBISHOP AND NOBEL LAUREATE DESMOND TUTU
"Please you leaders in Beijing, please we beg you, allow Tibet to be what the constitution of the People's Republic permits."
His old friend, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, also addressed the audience.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) TIBETAN SPIRITUAL LEADER, THE DALAI LAMA
"Now we Tibetans are passing through a difficult period and quite sophisticated. And I think compassionate nature of Tibetan culture are really facing a lot of difficulties. So please pray these things in your daily prayer."
Tutu, who arrived in Dharamsala earlier that day, is on a five-day visit to India spearheading a movement aimed at ending child marriages.
He was given a warm welcome by his holiness the Dalai Lama, who had been unable to attend Tutu's 80th birthday celebrations in South Africa last year after being denied a visa.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHBISHOP AND NOBEL LAUREATE DESMOND TUTU
"I have come to see my friend his holiness, the best birthday present, delayed birthday present but still, wonderful!"
China has controversially ruled Tibet since 1950 when Communist troops marched in.
Eighty-year-old Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for speaking out against apartheid in South Africa.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHBISHOP AND NOBEL LAUREATE DESMOND TUTU
"Please you leaders in Beijing, please we beg you, allow Tibet to be what the constitution of the People's Republic permits."
His old friend, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, also addressed the audience.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) TIBETAN SPIRITUAL LEADER, THE DALAI LAMA
"Now we Tibetans are passing through a difficult period and quite sophisticated. And I think compassionate nature of Tibetan culture are really facing a lot of difficulties. So please pray these things in your daily prayer."
Tutu, who arrived in Dharamsala earlier that day, is on a five-day visit to India spearheading a movement aimed at ending child marriages.
He was given a warm welcome by his holiness the Dalai Lama, who had been unable to attend Tutu's 80th birthday celebrations in South Africa last year after being denied a visa.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHBISHOP AND NOBEL LAUREATE DESMOND TUTU
"I have come to see my friend his holiness, the best birthday present, delayed birthday present but still, wonderful!"
China has controversially ruled Tibet since 1950 when Communist troops marched in.
Eighty-year-old Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for speaking out against apartheid in South Africa.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters