Tutu calls for Tibet's autonomy
02/06/2006 08:33  - (SA)  

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Brussels - Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu called on China on Thursday to grant Tibet its "rightful autonomy" after years of rule by Beijing.

Tutu said China was an emerging "potential" superpower and urged it to be a "superpower of morality".

"I want to call on the president and the government of China: please do the right thing," he said at a ceremony in Brussels, where he received an award from the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader.

Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

"His holiness (the Dalai Lama) and the people of Tibet are on the winning side. One day ... they will be free," he said.

Dalai Lama 'mischievous'

The former Anglican archbishop jokingly asked the crowd whether they thought God regretted that the Dalai Lama was not a Christian.

"I give great thanks to God for having created a Dalai Lama," Tutu said. "You see, God is not a Christian."

Tutu drew laughs for his description of the modest Tibetan leader as boyish and mischievous.

"I have to warn him: shhh! Try to behave yourself," he said. "I have to try to make him behave properly like a holy man."

Tibet faces 'a very difficult situation'

The Dalai Lama thanked Tutu for his backing. "The way he has expressed his support is something that is very important for us and it gave us some courage," he said.

Communist troops invaded Tibet in 1950 to cement Chinese rule, and the Dalai Lama fled nine years later after a failed uprising. Beijing considers him a traitor.

"Tibet continues to face a very difficult situation indeed," he said.

Tintin helped publicise Tibet

The Dalai Lama presented the "Light of Truth" award from the International Campaign for Tibet to Tutu and the Herge Foundation, which honours Georges Remi, the creator of Belgian comic book character Tintin.

The book Tintin in Tibet had made it possible for many people to learn about his country, the Dalai Lama said.

While in Brussels the Dalai Lama updated European Union lawmakers and Belgian ministers on secret negotiations between Tibet's government-in-exile, based in the Indian hill town of Dharamsala, and China.

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