Lhasa: China’s authoritarian system could not remain forever impervious to democracy, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has predicted.
“While governments could control people by physical force, controlling the mind and desire for freedom was a different idea,” the Age quoted Dalai Lama, as saying.
Inevitably as China became more open, repressive regimes in Burma and North Korea would follow suit.
``Plenty of reason to be optimistic,`` he added.
His comments came as Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard continued to think whether she would meet the Tibetan spiritual leader.
While a number of Labor MPs are encouraging Gillard to meet him when he arrives in Canberra, former New South Wales Labor premier Bob Carr expressed different views.
”The Prime Minister should feel no obligation to meet the Dalai Lama, indeed should feel an obligation not to meet him,” Carr said.
“He is a religious leader but also a cunning one with a political agenda. His agenda is not in Australia`s interest,” he added.
ANI
