The Dalai Lama's recent claim that he would "abandon Tibetan independence" in exchange for "a high degree of autonomy" does not hide his separatist nature, the chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region yesterday said.

"The autonomy advocated by the Dalai Lama goes against not only the aspirations of people in Tibet, but also the Constitution and the basic system currently in place," said Qiangba Puncog.

He was responding to the Dalai Lama's speeches during his visit to Australia.

"The system of regional autonomy for ethnic minorities guarantees that Tibetan people are their own masters," said the official at a press conference organized by the State Council Information Office.

"We should judge the Dalai Lama not only by what he says, but by what he does."

The Dalai Lama fled to India after a failed rebellion in 1959, eight years after the region was peacefully liberated in 1951.

"The Dalai Lama has traveled around the world in Buddhist robes to internationalize the Tibet issue and to push his own political agenda," said the chairman.

He said the Dalai Lama's claimed pursuit of autonomy or establishment of "a greater Tibetan area" are just a guise for his pursuit of Tibet independence.

Puncog said communication channels with the Dalai Lama and his representatives have always been open.

"The key lies in the Dalai Lama giving up the pursuit of Tibet independence and separatist activities," he said. "We expect him to show sincerity by doing some good deeds for the Tibetan people and the country."

Puncog also voiced "deep regret" over Australian Prime Minister John Howard's meeting with the Dalai Lama last week.

The Dalai Lama is not a simple religious figure but actually a politician, he said, quoting media tycoon Rupert Murdoch's description of the Dalai Lama as "wearing both a religious robe and Italy-made quality leather shoes and always on the run to various countries".

"The Dalai Lama has always been engaged in activities to split the country," the official said. "I believe foreign political leaders meeting the Dalai Lama is no longer a matter of religious belief but a matter that concerns the unity of our nation and integrity of Chinese territory."

(China Daily June 21, 2007)