THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 6, 1995 TAG: 9509060470
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL NOWELL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WINGATE LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
The Dalai Lama kicked off a 10-day U.S. speaking tour Tuesday with a stop in rural North Carolina, where he urged an overflow audience to support his crusade to free Tibet from Chinese rule.
``The Tibetan issue is a just cause,'' he said, speaking in English with Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., seated behind him on the stage at Wingate University.
``Privately, Chinese leaders say they want to solve this problem, that they want to negotiate,'' said the exiled spiritual leader of 11 million Tibetan Buddhists. ``But officially, they continue to have no response.''
The Dalai Lama, who is 60, was forced to flee his homeland when China occupied Tibet in 1959. Since that time, he has lived in India.
In a speech lasting nearly an hour, the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner urged Americans to support his nonviolent mission.
He said a free Tibet could become a ``zone of peace'' nestled between the densely populated nations of India and China.
``Peace between those nations is crucial to the world,'' he said.
His visit to the small liberal arts college 30 miles east of Charlotte was the first stop on a 10-day U.S. tour, which also includes appearances in Atlanta, Boston and Washington, D.C.
When word got out that the Dalai Lama was coming, all 1,500 free tickets were snatched up in a matter of hours.
The Dalai Lama's appearance in tiny Wingate was arranged by Helms, who told the audience that he became close friends with the Dalai Lama when they met nearly 20 years ago.
``I was captivated by his warm and friendly smile,'' Helms said in brief introductory remarks.
Helms also promised to remain a devout supporter of the Dalai Lama's cause to free Tibet.
``As long as there is a breath in me, and as sure as I remain a member of the U.S. Senate, I will defend the principles of this fine and wonderful man.'' ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Sen. Jesse Helms, left, vowed Tuesday to defend the Dalai Lama's
principles, which include a crusade to free Tibet from China.
by CNB