WASHINGTON - The Dalai lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, has postponed responding formally to a Chinese initiative that could see a dialogue on the territory's future. The Buddhist leader who saw President Bill Clinton yesterday in defiance of Chinese wishes said that, to avoid misunderstangs he must first consult Bejing informally "Upto, now the consultations have not materialised, so therefore I am not ready to make a public response. It depends on my consultation becaue I want, after my formal response, no more accusations," he, said.

The Dalai lama was thinking of using his US trip to answer Chinese President Jiang Zemin's invitation to begin dialogue, given during. Mr CIinton's June trip to China. Mr Jiang set two conditions: that the Dalai Lama recognise Tibet as inalienable from China, and Taiwan as a Chinese province. The Daai Lama long ago renounced Tibetan independence but has never taken a position on Taiwan. He reiterated his stand on Tibet after meeting Mr Clinton. "I am for autonomy, genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people, to preserve their distinct identity and way of life.- But the Chinese Goveniment has kept up attacks on the Buddhist leader, accusing him of avoiding the proper channels of communication, The Dalai Lama might have expected the White House to throw some light on exactly what the Chinese wanted. But US officials, apparently anxious not to upset Bejing, denied any mediating role. Mr Clinton did not schedule a meeting with the Dalai Lama but instead 'dropped by" when he met the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton. - REUTERS

BY MARGO WHITE

June 1998 Clinton Jiang and Tibetan Violence

Just as Bill Clinton met JiangZemin and urged him to open talks with the Dalai Lama - "I have spent time with the Dalai Lama and believe him to be an honest man, and I believe if he had a conversation with President Jiang, they would like one another very much". Jiang tossed his head and laughed. Jiang said he would meet him only if he accepted Tibet was an inalienable part of China.

While these exchanges are a major stride for freedom of information, because they were relayed live to the entire Chinese polulation on television and covered a free exchange on Tiannamen square - Clinton "I belive - and the American people believe - that the use of force and the tragic loss of life was wrong". Jiang replied "Had the Chinese government not taken the resolute measures then, we would not have enjoyed the stability that we are enjoying today".

However on the same day it was reported that 7 Tibetans were dead and 60 injured, 15 critically in disturbances at Drapchi prison. "Deaths on this scale have not occurred since the 1989 crackdown in Lhasa and the imposition of martial law".

India has in April intervened to interrupt the hunger-strike of Tibetan protesters after 50 days.

Palden Gyatso shows how electric probes shoved in his mouth wrecked his teeth during 33 years in prison for the 1959 uprising in Tibet against China

Monks Beware

BEIJING Nov 16 1996: - China will defrock radical monks in Tibet in a crackdown that could last up to five years in a bid to uproot the influence of the Dalai Lama in his Himalayan homeland, a Chinese propaganda official said yesterday. "Lamas who are comparatively reactionary will be told to return to secular life," the official said from Tibet's capital, Lhasa.

"Reorganisation of monasteries ... will consist mainly of ideological education ... it could continue for three to five years," he said. China has vowed to curb the influence of Buddhism and the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exited god-king, saying religion must conform to socialism instead of the other way round. - REUTER

NOTE: China has recently kidnapped the child nominated by the Dalai Lama as the successor to the Panchen Lama.