Dalai Lama gesture attacked

BEIJING, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- A China Daily commentary Thursday attacked the Dalai Lama for offering new ideas on the Tibetan issue through a U.S. newspaper.

The commentary, citing Nicholas Kristof's column in The New York Times published prior to the opening of the Beijing Olympics, said in the essay titled "An olive branch from the Dalai Lama," the writer also gave his opinions on the issue "with his incomplete knowledge of Beijing's policy on Tibet."

The China Daily said, "It is inexplicable" the Tibetan leader "publicized his requests through a Western journalist, instead of raising them directly" to the Chinese government "since Beijing has spoken out repeatedly the door to dialogues is open."

China's crackdown in March on Tibetan demonstrators protesting Beijing rule of their land was widely condemned around the world. China later agreed to hold dialogues with the Dalai Lama's representatives.

"Talking through an American journalist's mouth reduces the creditability of his message, and makes people wonder if the Dalai really desired to solve the problems or is it another PR smoking campaign on behalf of the West," the commentary said.

The report said the Dalai Lama, through Kristof, had said he longer wanted to talk to anyone other than China's top leaders.

"These wonton requests are totally unreasonable that could only set new barriers to future dialogue," the newspaper said.