Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, says he has given up on efforts to bring better autonomy for Tibet under Chinese rule and this is indeed sad news for the Tibetans, and for their cohorts.

The Dalai Lama has pursued different ways in order for Tibet to receive its autonomous status but there has been no positive response from Chinese leaders.

In his first public appearance since undergoing gallbladder surgery earlier this month, the Buddhist spiritual leader said, “as far as I’m concerned I have given up.”

“The issue of Tibet is not the issue of the Dalai Lama alone. It is the issue of 6 million Tibetans. I have asked the Tibetan government-in-exile, as a true democracy in exile, to decide in consultation with the Tibetan people the future course of action.”

His envoy in London said Chinese repression in Tibet is as bad as during the Cultural Revolution.

It is in deed very alarming down there.

Everywhere people watch each other, the Chinese watch the Tibetans. So many people were executed by the Chinese, so many people perished. Since the Chinese invasion over 1 million Tibetans were murdered by the Chinese.

Chinese officials have met several times with the Dalai Lama’s envoys since 2002. But the Chinese government recognizes them only as his private representatives.

Now that the Dalai Lama has given up his efforts in convincing Beijing about this matter, it is up to the Tibetan people to decide how to take the dialogue forward.