Dalai Lama: Chinese 'Censorship' At Root Of Tibet Problem

The Dalai Lama recently met with U.S. President Obama

The Dalai Lama, the exiled Buddhist spiritual leader of Tibet, says "censorship" in China is the source of Tibet's problems with China's Communist rulers.

Speaking to the Reuters news agency on a visit to Beverly Hills in California, the Dalai Lama said the Chinese people have no opportunity to understand the position of Tibetans because the Chinese government does not permit the free flow of information.

He said this has enabled Chinese authorities to portray him as a terrorist.

The Dalai Lama says that when China becomes an open society with freedom of speech and information, much unnecessary fear and doubt in China about Tibet will reduce.

The Dalai Lama, who met at the White House last week with U.S. President Barack Obama, lives in exile in India and advocates Tibet having significant autonomy within China.

The Chinese government accuses the Dala Lama of promoting unrest in Tibet and seeking to split the region from China.

compiled from agency reports