Dalai Lama's Health ‘Improved’

Tibet's exiled spiritual leader says he's in good health and still has faith in the Chinese people.

2008.11.04
dalai-japan-305.jpg TOKYO, Japan: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama speaks with RFA reporter at the Royal Park Hotel, 2 November 2008
RFA/Nanzhou

TOKYO—Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has reassured well-wishers about the state of his health Monday, just two weeks after undergoing a minor medical procedure.

Brushing aside concerns about his health, the Dalai Lama said he had recovered from a recent minor procedure following two weeks’ recuperation, and was continuing with his punishing international schedule.

“There are no major health obstacles for me now, and I am able to carry on with my itinerary. So, on my visit here in Japan, I can say to you all that you can rest assured on the question of my health,” he said.

He thanked well-wishers who had enquired after his health.

“Recently I have undergone a minor procedure and the operation proceeded very smoothly. I have recovered fairly quickly following two weeks of recuperation,” he said.

But he reiterated that he was losing hope and trust in any further talks with China's leadership on the question of Tibet.

“While our hope and our trust in the Chinese government is getting thinner and thinner, fading away, our trust and confidence in the Chinese people will never change,” he said.

“The future of China should belong to them.”

'Material development'

He said many Chinese intellectuals had supported the Tibetans in their days of protest in March, which culminated in an armed crackdown by People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops.

“There were a lot of people in mainland China, scholars, experts, people from all walks of life, who expressed their support for the Tibetans. We felt very grateful and a little heartened by this,” the Dalai Lama said through his Mandarin interpreter Cai Jia.

He said he still believed that Tibet was better off within the framework of the People's Republic of China, at least materially.

“I believe that Tibet can obtain a lot of material development from being part of the People's Republic of China,” he said.

“Therefore, I hope that the government will be able to face up to the real issues that are going on in Tibet, and sort them out properly. I have said before that the Chinese are able to feed us materially speaking, while we are able to feed them spiritually,” he added.

“My personal opinion is that the question of Tibet is intimately linked to the peaceful development of the People's Republic of China, and to its unity and social harmony. So I believe that if the issue of Tibet is solved, it will be beneficial to China,” the Dalai Lama said.

Original reporting in Mandarin by Nan Zhou. Mandarin service director: Jennifer Chou. Translated and written for the Web in English by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Sarah Jackson-Han.

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