The top legislator of the Tibet autonomous region said on Sunday that authorities have not changed their policy toward the 14th Dalai Lama, who fled to India after a failed riot in 1959.

"There's no change in our thinking on the Dalai Lama problem, and we can't make any change on that thinking," Padma Choling, chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of the Tibet autonomous region, told reporters after a panel discussion.

He added that relations between the Han and Tibetan peoples are close, and the Dalai Lama is the one who manipulated and sabotaged ties with recent incidents, including the self-immolation of monks.

Commenting on the Dalai Lama's ongoing visit to the US, where he met with US President Barack Obama and gave an opening prayer at the US Senate, Padma Choling said Tibetans, including himself and those from other ethnic groups, strongly denounce and object to the meetings.

He said the reason for the Dalai Lama to meet US leaders is obvious - working to "build his 'Greater Tibet' and the 'middle way' for 'independence'."

"Independence" means going back to a theocratic Tibet, he said, adding that any government or political organizations and individuals meeting with the Dalai Lama are interfering in China's internal affairs.

"The meetings will not have any influence on Tibetan people and the general situation. What we have to do is to dedicate ourselves to the development of Tibet, improve the livelihood and help everyone live happily.

"We cherish the great unity we have among all ethnic groups," the former chairman of the autonomous region said, adding that the local government aims to create an "excellent model" of Han-Tibetan relations.

Protest in Washington

On Friday, when the Dalai Lama spoke inside the National Cathedral in Washington, close to 700 people protested outside on behalf of the International Shugden Community of Buddhists, the national USA Today newspaper reported.

The Dalai Lama banned Buddhists from worshipping Dorje Shugden, a deity regarded as a protector or "guardian angel", because the deity is harmful to him and the Tibetan people. Worldwide, over 4 million people are followers of Dorje Shugden.

USA Today reported that the demonstrators called the Dalai Lama a "hypocrite" and asked him to "stop lying". "A mother goes out to buy food for her children and is turned away from the store because she practices Dorje Shugden. People are thrown out of hospitals," protester Rebecca Foley said.

wanghuazhong@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 03/10/2014 page4)