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No 'Business As Usual' In Talks On Tibet

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The Associated Press

Published: May 4, 2008

BEIJING - The Dalai Lama's government-in-exile expressed optimism about upcoming talks with Chinese officials, but cautioned Saturday that too much should not be expected from the first meeting between the two sides since violent anti-government protests erupted in Tibet.

Talks were scheduled to begin today and last for a day or two in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, which neighbors Hong Kong, said Samdhong Rinpoche, prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharmsala, India.

Two of the Dalai Lama's representatives planned to push for peace in Tibetan areas of China and address Beijing's accusations the spiritual leader has been masterminding the recent unrest, he told a public rally in Dharmsala.

China's official Xinhua News Agency confirmed that two senior Communist Party officials would meet the Tibetan envoys. The Xinhua report did not say where the officials would meet for what it called "contacts and consultations."

The Tibetan government-in-exile has called the meetings "informal talks with representatives of the Chinese leadership."
Thubten Samphal, a spokesman for the exiled government, has said talks would not be formal because "we cannot do business as usual when the situation in Tibet is so grave."

China has been accused of heavy-handed tactics in quelling protests in Tibet and other Tibetan areas of western China. Some experts think Beijing agreed to meet with the Dalai Lama's envoys to ease international criticism ahead of the Olympics, which begin in August.

China says 22 people died in violence in Tibet's capital of Lhasa in March. Tibetan supporters outside China say the number of people who died is much higher.

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