Dialogue over Tibet ends abruptly

The much-awaited talks between the Dalai Lama's envoys and China ended abruptly on Sunday hours after the two sides met for the first time since the unrest erupted in Tibet in March, with Beijing demanding 'credible moves' from the Tibetan leader to stop violence as a precondition for the next round of parleys.

Chinese officials and the Dalai Lama's 'private representatives' agreed to hold another round of 'contact and consultation at an appropriate time', state run Xinhua news agency said after the meeting in the booming southern city of Shenzen.

During the meeting, officials Zhu Weiqun and Sitar told the Dalai Lama's envoys that the riots in Lhasa on March 12 had given rise to 'new obstacles' for resuming contacts and consultations with the 'Dalai side', it added.

However, the government, they said, still arranged the meeting with 'great patience and sincerity'.

Zhu and Sitar had expressed the hope that to create conditions for the next round of contact and consultation, the Dalai side will take 'credible moves to stop activities aimed at splitting China, stop plotting and inciting violence and stop disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games', the agency said quoting sources.

Earlier, the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharmshala had said that talks between the Dalai Lama's envoys, Lody Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, and Chinese officials would continue for next two-three days, but the parleys failed to stretch beyond a few hours at the tightly-guarded state guest house.

Tenzin Takhla, Dalai Lama's secretary, had on Sunday told PTI from Dharamshala that the envoys are expected to return to India by Thursday and brief the Dalai Lama on the talks.

The Chinese officials said the Lhasa riots, which were 'against the people's will' had jeopardised the fundamental interests of all the Chinese people, including Tibetans and caused 'great public indignation and strong condemnation' by people from various walks of life.

The Tibetan government-in-exile said on Saturday that their 'immediate concern' was for ending 'repression' and lifting of all restrictions on Tibetans and they will raise it with the Chinese.

However, Chinese officials involved in the parleys defended the crackdown saying it was 'completely correct' for the local government to take actions in accordance with the law to maintain social stability and to safeguard the country's legal system and the 'peoples essential interest'.

The officials also said that as the Lhasa riots had been put down, social order was being restored. Religious followers there were enjoying full freedom of religious belief, and people were yearning for stability and development, they claimed.

The Dalai Lama's representatives expressed their views on 'relevant matters' and said they would 'report truthfully what had been discussed' at the meeting to the Dalai Lama, Xinhua quoted sources as saying.