“I support Chinese hosting the famous world games,” he said Thursday in an international hotel outside Tokyo “because China is the most populous and an ancient nation. Chinese people deserve to host the games.”

The Dalai Lama was in Japan on a stopover on his way to Seattle, Washington, to attend a conference.

Protests have been held around the world toward Beijing’s hosting of the Summer Olympics after the anti-government riots erupted in Tibet last month, and the torch relays in London, Paris and San Francisco have faced massive demonstrations and disruptions.

“In fact, after London, I sent a message to Tibetans in San Francisco, asking them not to be violent,” the Dalai Lama continued, “but nobody has the right to say ‘shut up.’ It’s the individual’s right ... freedom of speech.”

He also urged the international community to investigate China’s crackdown on the recent anti-government uprising in Tibet.

“If possible, go to Tibet,” said the Dalai Lama to some 120 journalists from the world’s news media at a packed news conference. He appealed to the international community to “carry out a thorough investigation,” and see “what really happened there.”

“The official explanation [provides] distorted information, [which] creates misunderstanding.”

While the Japanese government has kept itself at arm’s length from the Dalai Lama, with officials refusing to meet him during his stopover, he said that he appreciated what he said was the support he has received from Japan and other nations since the outbreak of violence.

Not long after Tibet’s largest anti-China riots in almost two decades broke out on March 10, China shut off Tibet from non-residents, including foreigners, and turned away foreign media until late March when it allowed its first tightly government-controlled media trip.

He also urged China to relinquish using violence to suppress differences.

“Chinese government, the time has come to accept reality and try to find a solution according to reality.”

“Just using violent suppression is actually [an] outdated method,” he said.

The 72-year-old Dalai Lama has been living in exile in northern India since 1959. China accuses him of seeking independence for Tibet, but the Dalai Lama says he only wants “meaningful” autonomy for the Tibetan people.

“I feel sad the government demonizes me. You can see, I am a human, I am not a demon.”

While asked whether he would join the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony if invited, the Dalai Lama said he would “love to go and enjoy the ceremony” but only if the Chinese government starts to change and “takes a religious approach” toward issues in Tibet.

The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing start on Aug. 8.

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