Thousands Came to Hear the Dalai Lama on Tallinn’s Town Hall Square

The crowd gathered to hear the Dalai Lama in Tallinn‘s Town Hall Square 

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Tenzin Gyatso (1935- ), His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, seen during his recent visit to Estonia

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On Wednesday, a large audience gathered for a public speech of the Tibetan spiritual leader in the Estonian capital. Our Interfax correspondent reported that Town Hall Square, the largest square in Tallinn {75 x 75 metres = 246 x 246 feet = 5,625 square metres = .5625 hectare = 60,516 square feet = @1.39 acres: editor}, was full of people, many carrying the flag of Tibet. Pointing up its universal significance, the Dalai Lama emphasised the importance of the Tibetan flag. “The Chinese authorities claim that Tibet has separatist yearnings. Well, during a meeting in 1954, Mao Zedong asked me if Tibet had a flag. After slightly hesitating, I replied that, yes, we do have one. Then, he said that we could keep it (the flag). If you have any problems, you can say that you have Mao Zedong’s permission [to fly your flag]”, the Dalai Lama said. He laid stress on the fact, “Tibet doesn’t wish to weaken the Chinese state; we only want the opportunity to develop our own culture”.

Parliamentarians from the Baltic states also met with the Dalai Lama, who expressed the hope that these countries would support Tibet. “Don’t forget about our fate”, he said. In particular, Lithuanian MPs stated that they doubted that senior officials in their country were willing to accept a visit from the Dalai Lama. Dalia Kuodytė {a Neoliberal “conservative” pro-American pro-“Free Market” lickspittle: editor}, the head of the interparliamentary relations section of the Lithuanian Seimas, after a meeting with the Dalai Lama, told the news agency BNS that if one supports Tibet, it leads to pressure on the part of the Chinese authorities. “I could issue an invitation on my own initiative, but it’s a great responsibility, it depends on other people’s approval, not only mine… I’m not even sure that it’d be taken seriously, so, I’d be irresponsible, at least, to issue such an invitation”, she said. Ms Kuodytė mentioned that the Lithuanian leadership would consider this very question in September. She went on to say, “There was much intimidation and pressure deployed against Estonia, but give them credit, they stood up to it”.

17 August 2011

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=41879

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