US wants UN to take up Dalai Lama succession: envoy

United States wants United Nations to take up Dalai Lama's succession in an intensifying bid to stop China from trying to handpick his successor, an envoy said after meeting Tibetan spiritual leer.

Sam Brownback, US ambassor-at-large for international religious freedom, said he spoke at length about succession issue with 84-year-old Dalai Lama last week in monk's home-in-exile of Dharamsala, India.

Brownback said he told Dalai Lama that United States would seek to build global support for principle that choice of next spiritual chief "belongs to Tibetan Buddhists and t Chinese government."

"I would hope that UN would take issue up," Brownback told AFP after returning to Washington.

He ackwledged that China, with its veto power on Security Council, would work strenuously to block any action, but he hoped countries could at least raise ir voices at United Nations.

"I think it's really important to have an early global conversation because this is a global figure with a global impact," he said.

"That's big thing that we're really after w, to stir this before we're right in middle of it -- if something happens to Dalai Lama, that re has been this robust discussion globally about it ahe of time," he said.

"My estimation undoubtedly is that (Chinese) communist party has thought a lot about this. So y've got a plan and I think we have to be equally aggressive with a plan."

Dalai Lama once traveled incessantly, drawing huge Western audiences with his good-humored lectures on compassion and happiness.

RE | Next Dalai Lama Must Be Chosen Within China; India Should t Intervene: Chinese Authorities

But bel Peace Prize winner has slowed down and earlier this year suffered a chest infection, although he is t kwn to have serious health issues.

Brownback said he found Dalai Lama "quite jovial" and that monk h told him, "Look, I'm going to live ar 15, 20 years; I'm going to outlast Chinese government.''

But Beijing has indicated it is waiting out Dalai Lama, believing his campaign for greater Tibetan automy will end with him.

China, which argues that it has brought modernisation and development to Himalayan region, has increasingly hinted that it could name next Dalai Lama, who would presumably be groomed to support Chinese rule.

In 1995, officially aist government selected its own Panchen Lama and detained a six-year-old identified for influential Buddhist position -- whom rights groups called world's youngest political prisoner.

Mindful of Beijing's plans, 14th Dalai Lama has mused about breaking with centuries-old trition in which wandering monks look for signs that a young boy is reincarnation.

He has said that he could pick his own successor, possibly a girl, or even declare himself final Dalai Lama.

US Congress has also stepped up efforts, including by mandating visa denials by end of year for Chinese officials unless Beijing eases restrictions on US diplomats, journalists and ordinary people seeking to visit Tibet.

RE | China Asserts Its Approval For Choosing Dalai Lama's Successor

Brownback said he would like access to Tibet, "but I want it unfettered." He said he similarly hoped to visit western region of Xinjiang, which has drawn intense US scrutiny over incarceration of some one million Uighurs and or Turkic-speaking Muslims.

"It is part of same war on faith," Brownback said of Tibet and Xinjiang.

Brownback also visited Nepal, historically gateway for Tibetans fleeing to India but which has increasingly clamped down under pressure from its giant rrn neighbour.

Brownback said he raised fears for Tibetans with Nepal's foreign minister, Preep Gyawali.

But he ackwledged Nepal's difficult situation and said: "I would hate to be very harsh on Nepalese because y've been so good over so many years to help Tibetans."

Brownback said that burden was ultimately with China to allow freedom of movement -- and t to interfere in Tibetan Buddhism.

"A government doesn't own a religion," he said. "A religion runs itself." "We hope we'll get a number of or communities around world to express similar positions and concerns."

RE | Tibetian Parliament Passes Resolution On 'reincarnation Of Dalai Lama'

RE | Top US Diplomat Meets Dalai Lama, Says 'inspired & Deeply Moved'