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Tibetan fate similar to Warsaw Uprising: Dalai Lama

AFP

The Dalai Lama gives a lecture at the University of Warsaw, Poland, on 28 July 2009. The Dalai Lama is due to receive his honorary citizenship in Warsaw on 29 July during ceremonies at the royal castle in Warsaw.AFP/Janek Skarzynski/Poland

Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Tuesday compared the fate of the Tibetan people to Polish insurgents who rose up against Nazi Germany in the doomed 1944 Warsaw Uprising.

“Since 1956 in many parts of Tibet there is a similar situation. Even the Chinese, communist military sometimes used bombs, airplanes,” he said during a visit to a Warsaw museum dedicated to the battle.

Hailing the Polish people’s “desire for freedom”, the Dalai Lama lit a candle at the foot of a vast black memorial wall inscribed with thousands of names of Polish resistance fighters killed in the Uprising launched 1 August 1944.

The rebellion, which lasted 63 days, saw 200,000 civilians and 18,000 resistance fighters massacred by the Nazis.

He also rang a bell decorating the memorial wall before hanging a large white scarf on it, a Buddhist symbol of purity and happiness.

“Very moving” he said following the visit. “I always admire the Polish people’s spirit and also I think the desire for freedom,” he said.

“Of course unfortunately one enemy gone and another enemy comes. (It’s) seen very clearly in this museum,” the Dalai Lama said referring to the fact that after Nazi Germany’s defeat, Poland was ruled by a communist regime installed by the Soviet Union.

“Now you really got genuine freedom. Freedom gives rights. I think you have to realise with rights also there is duty and responsibility…” he said.

The Dalai Lama, 74, arrived in Warsaw Monday for a three-day visit. He lectured several hundred students Tuesday morning at Warsaw University and was expected to be named an honorary citizen of the Polish capital Wednesday morning.

Beijing accuses him of wanting full independence for Tibet, a claim which he himself has called “totally baseless”, insisting instead on an autonomous status for his Himalayan homeland within China.

He has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet after a failed uprising in 1959 against Chinese rule, nine years after Chinese troops invaded the territory.

Copyright © 2009 AFP

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