Only knee problems - Not so bad - Dalai Lama reassures his followers on his 89th birthday
In a video message on the occasion of his 89th birthday, the Dalai Lama tried to reassure his followers who were worried about his knee surgery in the US. "I am almost 90, but I don't feel sick, except for minor problems in my legs," the Dalai Lama said in a video message released on his website on Saturday.
He explained that the problems were "inevitable due to the aging process." The jubilar added, "I'm doing fine overall, so please calm down and relax." The Dalai Lama had traveled from his exile in Dharamsala, India, to New York a week ago to have his knee problems treated. Numerous followers were waiting anxiously outside the hotel in Manhattan where the Dalai Lama was staying, hoping to catch a glimpse of the spiritual leader of the Tibetans.
Dalai Lama receives US visit
Before the Dalai Lama's trip to New York, a delegation of US congressmen had visited him in Dharamsala, which led to heavy criticism from China. The visit came after the US Congress passed a bill encouraging Beijing to resume negotiations with Tibetan representatives, which had been frozen since 2010.
China sent troops to Tibet in 1950 and has controlled the autonomous region and the neighboring provinces, where many Tibetans live, with an iron fist ever since. On March 10, 1959, the Tibetans began an uprising against the Chinese occupiers. It was brutally suppressed by the People's Republic, and their spiritual leader, the then 23-year-old Dalai Lama, had to flee.
The Dalai Lama, who had traveled to New York for knee surgery, received a visit from a delegation of US congressmen in Dharamsala before his trip, sparking controversy with China. After his procedure, the Dalai Lama returned to his hotel in Manhattan, where many followers were eager to catch a glimpse of him, despite his assurances that he was recovering well.
