Dalai Lama gets honorary citizenship of Polish city

WARSAW: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has been made an honorary citizen of Wroclaw, a big city in southwest Poland.

This was announced Monday by the city's president, Rafal Dutkiewicz.

Dutkiewicz lauded the Dalai Lama's struggle for peace and independence for his people.

"The Dalai Lama has made tremendous efforts to keep the struggle going in face of a ruthless regime for the freedom of his people for five decades. Every lover of freedom and human rights should salute him. It is our privilege to confer upon him honorary citizenship of our city-Wroclaw," said the city president.

The Polish government has invited the Dalai Lama to visit Poland this year. A date is being fixed for the trip. It is possible the Dalai Lama may go to Wroclaw then to accept the honorary citizenship.

The Dalai Lama enjoys widespread support in Poland. Many demonstrations have been held in the country in support of Tibet's freedom since March in the wake of a crackdown by Chinese security forces in Tibet.

The Dalai Lama lives in India, heading a government-in-exile based in the hill town of Dharamsala. India is also home to some 100,000 Tibetan exiles. The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after a failed revolt against Chinese rule over Tibet.