Reports: Dalai Lama riff delays India-China talks

NEW DELHI (AP) — A representative of the Dalai Lama asked China on Sunday not to politicize a religious congregation in New Delhi at which the Tibetan spiritual leader is to speak.

Tempa Tshering's comment came as Indian newspapers reported that India has postponed talks with China on a border dispute because of a demand by Beijing that India stop the Dalai Lama from addressing the Buddhist conference.

"This is a purely religious conference. It should not be used by any nation or individual for political purposes," Tshering said as the four-day gathering began Sunday with thousands of participants from India and abroad.

The Dalai Lama is scheduled to address the conference on Wednesday.

Beijing apparently fears that the conference, which has the support of India's External affairs Ministry, could be used by Tibetans as a platform for criticizing Chinese rule over Tibet.

China regularly objects to any contacts between other governments and the Dalai Lama, and accuses him of being a separatist. The Dalai Lama insists he is only seeking increased autonomy for Tibet.

At least 11 monks, nuns, and former monks have set themselves on fire in China this year in what is seen as acts of desperation in the face of tightening Chinese control over Tibetan life and Buddhist culture.

China accuses supporters of the Dalai Lama of encouraging the immolations. The Dalai Lama and representatives of the self-declared Tibetan government-in-exile in India say they oppose all violence.

Representatives of India and China were expected to meet in Delhi this week for talks on the decades-old border dispute in the Himalayans. The Indian and Chinese foreign ministries have not commented on the reports of a delay.

On Friday, both sides said they were in contact over dates and issues for the talks. There was no mention of any specific times, conflicts, or the Dalai Lama.

The newspaper Hindustan Times said the Indian side is believed to have told China that the congregation is religious and cannot be canceled.

China insists Tibet has always been part of its territory, but many Tibetans say the Himalayan region was virtually independent for centuries.

___

Associated Press writer Chris Bodeen in Beijing contributed to this report.

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