Chinese political advisors: Dalai Lama not harmony promoter but trouble maker

Source: Xinhua | 03-12-2009 08:02

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese political advisors from the religious circle Wednesday dismissed the Dalai Lama's so-called commitment to promote inter-religious harmony, saying he should not use religion as a tool for his separatist activities.

"The Dalai Lama has not served the religious harmony but instead repeatedly makes troubles," said Liu Bainian, vice chairman of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.

Liu, also deputy director of the Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks in response to a speech by the Dalai Lama on Tuesday to mark his abortive rebellion 50 years ago.

In the speech delivered in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamshala, the lama said as a religious practitioner he is committed to promotion of inter-religious harmony and "the issue of Tibet", while accusing the Chinese government has transformed the plateau region into a "hell on earth."