Dalai Lama wins Nobel Peace for Tibet movement

HT’s report on the Tibetan leader winning coveted prize for his non-violent struggle

- Agencies

The Dalai Lama was on October 5 awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent struggle to free Tibet from Chinese rule.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee raised the Dalai Lama's preaching of universal reverence and respect for all people and things in nature. The committee said it was looking for the Nobel laureate, who was in Los Angeles, to inform him of the coveted award.

Mr Tinley Nyandak, a spokesman in New York for Tibet's government-in-exile, hailed the Nobel committee's decision. “It’s certainly long overdue for someone who has genuinely worked for peace, not only for the Tibetan people, but he has strived to gain a genuine peace for the entire world”, he said.

The selection of the Tibetan Buddhist Lama could be seen asa signal of encouragement for the democratic movement in China itself, following the repression of student protesters in Bejjing in June. According to reports, Chinese troops clashed with protesters at Tiananmen Square in Beijing demanding reform, killing dozens of people.