Dalai Lama meets politicians, seeks support for meeting on Tibet crisis

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama met politicians Thursday and expressed hope that Japanese supporters will take part in an emergency meeting for Tibetan exiles to be held in India later this month, said sources close to a Diet group to which the lawmakers belong.

Seeking support: The Dalai Lama speaks to Yukio Edano (center) of the Democratic Party of Japan and other DPJ members at a Tokyo hotel Thursday. KYODO PHOTO

The meeting and the Dalai Lama's overtures are seen as all but certain to provoke a reaction from China, which has criticized Japan for providing him with a stage to engage in "separatist activities" by allowing his visit.

Among the lawmakers who met with him are Yukio Edano, a member of the Democratic Party of Japan who formerly served as chairman of the main opposition force's policy research council; Tokuichiro Tamazawa, a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and former farm minister; and Shu Watanabe, a DPJ member of the House of Representatives.

They all belong to a cross-party league of lawmakers who share concern about Tibetan issues.

People close to the Diet group said one of them is considering attending the meeting in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile in northern India, as requested.

At Thursday's meeting in Tokyo, the Dalai Lama said he would like to take advice from supporters from around the world at the meeting to convene Nov. 17, which he has called to discuss the Tibetan people's political future.

The Dalai Lama indicated he does not intend to play a leading role at the upcoming meeting to avoid obstructing dialogue with China, given that Beijing has accused him of organizing the riots in Tibet and neighboring provinces earlier this year.

Noting a lack of progress concerning Tibet, the Dalai Lama said he has failed to ease concerns among Chinese leaders that he still wishes to achieve independence for Tibet. The Dalai Lama arrived in Japan on Oct. 31 from India, where he lives in exile.