The Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, urged China to embrace democracy following the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square attack. The spiritual leader also offered prayers on Wednesday for the martyrs.

Beijing despised the Dalai Lama as a separatist. He made rare statements regarding the June 4, 1989 incident during a prayer rally, two years after he said he would abandon politics.

Like Us on Facebook

Dalai Lama said that he is offering his prayers to those who have fought and died for freedom, human rights and democracy. He also urged China to enter the global democracy mainstream following the country’s progress in the integration of world economy. This was according to his statement released on his official website, dalailama.com.

A statement citing the Dalai Lama’s speech was released by Washington based Initiatives for China, urging China to peacefully transit to a democratic country. This was released together with the spiritual leader’s text of prayers to remember the victims of the Tiananmen Square incident.

The prayer text of the Buddhist religious leader said that the anniversary of the young martyrs of China should get the heart of the Chinese authorities in present time away from defensiveness and fear. He also prayed that the Chinese leaders would reach out to the families of the victims and the victims themselves and repent from the massacre incurred by the Chinese youth.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry of China condemned the comments made by the Dalai Lama.

Ministry representative Hong Lei said during a news conference that the Dalai Lama’s statement has hidden motives. He also said that it has been very clear to people all around the world, who the Buddhist religious leader is.

Even as the Dalai Lama is infamous worldwide, the Buddhist leader has been seen by the communist leaders of the Chinese government as a dangerous threat that supports violence. On the other hand, the spiritual leader denies the allegations and said he only wants genuine autonomy for China.

In 1959, the Dalai Lama escaped to exile in India after China ruled Tibet with an iron fist in the 1950s.

TagsDalai Lama, Tibet, Tiananmen Square, Foreign Ministry