Exiles saddened by Obama's views on Tibet

Tibetan exiles have expressed unhappiness over United States President Barack Obama calling Tibet an integral part of China and calling for a resumption of a dialogue to resolve the Tibet crisis while on a visit to Beijing.

Chinese media reports stated that Obama had said that the US considers Tibet an integral part of China and has called for resumption of dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama.

Obama's statement shocked the entire Tibetan community, said Tenzin Cheoying, the president of the voluntary Students for Free Tibet.

"I don't think there is a need to rethink the path of non-violence, but definitely we need to rethink about the path of so-called dialogue with the Chinese government. And, we should not let ourselves believe that the United States would come forward and help us in solving the Tibetan issue or neither should we believe that the European Union or any powerful countries could do that. For us, now, what we firmly believe is that it is only up to the individual Tibetans, all the Tibetans unitedly, we need to come out with a new strategy," said Cheoying.

Even if the dialogue takes place, it has to be result oriented, said Dhondup Dorjee, vice president of the Tibetan Youth Congress.

"Whatever he (Obama) stated today, of course, Tibetans in general we welcome his appeal to the Chinese leadership in urging early resumption of dialogue, but a dialogue without any result, dialogue with lots of pre-conditions from the Chinese government and with no intentions to come to a solution, will reach us no where. So, we expect the US president to take up the Tibet issue at a higher level, not at the mere usual common stand to encourage dialogue. And, what was the fate of the dialogue we have seen in the 80's and even in the recent dialogue what happened," Dorjee said.

The Tibetan government-in-exile on Tuesday expressed its willingness to hold talks with China after Obama called for a recommencement of dialogue to end the Tibet crisis.

Earlier, Chinese officials and messengers of Dalai Lama have held eight rounds of talks that have not been successful.

Riots and protests against the Chinese presence had hit the roof last year over the Dalai Lama pronouncing that he is looking for autonomy for Tibet.

Obama is scheduled to meet the Dalai Lama after his return to Washington, a meeting that China has strongly opposed.