China rejects Dalai Lama's demand for greater autonomy

China today rejected the Dalai Lama's demand for a "high degree of autonomy" for Tibet saying it went against the Chinese Constitution and the "fundamental interests of Tibetan Buddhism".
"Dalai Lama's so-called "high-degree of autonomy" in "Greater Tibet" has "run counter to China's Constitution, the law, and the fundamental interests of Tibetan Buddhism," Yu Zhengsheng, a senior leader of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC)has said in his talks with Buddhist monks and religious officials during his current tour of Tibet.
Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and in-charge of minorities urged the Tibetan Buddhist circle to "have a clear understanding of the secessionist nature of the Dalai Lama clique and resolutely safeguard national unification, ethnic unity and Tibet's harmony and stability," state run Xinhua news agency reported today.

The official said it was important to "comprehensively implement the ethnic and religious policies of the Communist Party of China and actively guide religions so they adapt to a socialist society".
Yu said development remains "fundamental and key" for Tibet and promoted efforts to rule Tibet by law and seek a regional development path with Chinese and local characteristics.
His assertions has made it clear that the new leadership of the CPC which took over power this year for a ten year tenure would continue to reject the exiled Tibetan leader's call for greater autonomy to the entire Tibetan region which has been divided into several prefectures.

Chinese officials have been saying that though the Dalai Lama has renounced call for independence, his demand for greater autonomy leaving only defence and foreign affairs to the Chinese central government amounted to independence which cannot be accepted by Beijing.

Similarly if they unite all the Tibetan prefectures, it becomes a huge province.
About 120 Tibetans committed self immolations in the last several months opposing the Chinese rule as well as demanding the return of Dalai Lama from his exile in India.
One self-immolation by a Tibetan was reported from Nepal yesterday.
There is no indications yet whether the new Chinese leadership headed by President Xi Jinping have any plans to hold direct or indirect talks with Dalai Lama.

Such talks with past failed to make any headway.
In his speeches Yu called for efforts to "achieve leapfrog economic and social development in Tibet and long-term stability" in the region.
Meanwhile, Tibetans from home and abroad flocked to a reputed monastery to celebrate the annual Shoton festival during which a massive handmade portrait of Lord Buddha was displayed for public.
The week-long event, also known as the Yogurt Banquet festival, had its routine start with a grand ceremony of "sunning of the Buddha" in the 600-year-old Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery of Tibetan Buddhism's Gelug Sect.