Hundreds protest Dalai Lama

SEATTLE – In the strongest showing of pro-Chinese support, several hundred demonstrators protested outside the venue where the Dalai Lama spoke Monday afternoon.

Thousands of people have flocked to watch the exiled Tibetan leader speak since he arrived on Thursday for a five-day conference on compassion, but Seattle’s large Chinese community had remained largely silent until Monday.

Inside the university basketball arena, the Dalai Lama received an honorary degree from the University of Washington and spoke to students on employing dialogue to solve problems.

While his visit to the United States was billed as nonpolitical, the Tibetan leader is expected to meet with a U.S. senior official next week.

Demonstrators outside the arena said they wanted their side to be heard. They held signs criticizing media bias, and protesting the violence from Tibetan monks rioting.

Some echoed the Chinese government’s stand that the Dalai Lama is behind the uprising. Signs called the Dalai Lama a liar and a “CIA funded militant.” Many waved large Chinese flags.

“I think that people are misinformed. They have media discrimination,” said Jiange Li, one of the demonstrators outside the event.

The group chanted “We love Tibet,” “Stop lying” and “Dalai, your smiles charm, your actions harm,” as thousands of people filed into the venue. A small plane flew overhead mirroring the chants with a banner.

The China-born community is the largest Asian immigrant group in Seattle, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures. However, Seattle has been a city historically friendly to the Tibetan cause. The Dalai Lama has visited Seattle a handful of times and has always been warmly welcomed.

Inside the arena, the Dalai Lama was greeted by a standing ovation. UW president Mark Emmert welcomed the Dalai Lama, calling him the “pre-eminent spiritual leader of our time.”

“You will make this century of peace,” the Dalai Lama told the UW students inside a packed Hec Edmunson Pavilion.

In his address, the Tibetan leader repeated that dialogue is the only way to solve conflict, especially as he sees poverty and environmental problems increasing in the future.