China issues Dalai Lama with Olympic ultimatum

China is urging Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to back the Olympics as part of conditions for continued talks.

The conditions came after two days of meetings last week in Beijing between Chinese officials and two envoys sent by the Dalai Lama from his exile base in India.

Xinhua News Agency today quoted an unnamed spokesman for the United Front Work Department, the body that handles the talks, as saying the Dalai Lama must not support activities that disrupt the Beijing Olympics, or activities that seek Tibetan independence.

The spokesman said he must also curb the “violent terrorist” activities of the Tibetan Youth Congress, an exile group that disagrees with the Dalai Lama’s stance and supports Tibetan independence.