Washington: President George W Bush has been asked by an influential US forum on religious freedom not to attend the opening ceremony of the Bejing Olympics unless China starts direct negotiation with the Dalai Lama on the Tibet issue.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom said if Bush intends to attend the opening ceremony, he should first visit the Tibetan regional capital Lhasa or another Tibetan area in an affirmation of the US commitment to religious freedom for Tibetans as well as other growing religious communities of China.

It said Bush should attend the opening ceremony of the Games if China takes steps to restore religious freedom of the Tibetans.

"The Commission strongly supports the longstanding US policy of calling on Chinese authorities to open a meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama to resolve the persistent dispute in Tibet of which the recent clashes are only the latest confirmation. China should begin direct negotiations with the Dalai Lama with the aim of establishing true religious freedom and greater autonomy for Tibet inside China," the Commission said in a statement.

"Religious freedom cannot be ensured without recognising the authority of the Dalai Lama, his centrality to the beliefs of Tibetan Buddhists, and their steadfast loyalty to his leadership despite severe restrictions," Chairman of the USCIRF Michael Cromartie said.

The Commission has also urged the House of Representatives and the US Senate to sponsor a joint resolution detailing the history of recent negotiations between the Dalai Lama and Beijing.

It also asked the lawmakers to make a clear statement about the need for substantive discussions on Tibet that will lead to religious freedom and a level of autonomy consistent with Chinese law.

"Such a resolution would garner the support of other governments as well, and enhance the common goal to see an end to violence and the start of substantive negotiations on the Tibetan crisis  before the Olympics begin this summer" it said.

It said before deciding to attend the opening ceremony of the Games, Bush should request to meet with prisoners and persons detained by China for exercising their religious freedom.

Bush should also attend an "unregistered" church to underline the  Chinese government's violations of religious freedom through its efforts to control faith, it said.

Washington, the Commission has said, should seek unrestricted access to Tibetan regions to assess the situation.

The Commission, a bipartisan independent federal body, is mandated by Congress to monitor abuse of freedom of religion.

The riots in Lhasa and other Tibetan-populated areas in Sichuan and Gansu provinces have left 20 persons dead following violent anti-government protests spearheaded by monks.

The unrest in Tibet and Beijing's crackdown have brought calls from Western powers led by the US to exercise restraint by China and hold talks with the Dalai Lama.

Source : PTI