Up to 5,000 people, mostly Tibetan exiles but also a large contingent of foreigners, including Hollywood stars Richard Gere and Goldie Hawn, gathered for the event in Dharamsala.

The northern Indian hill town has been home for the past four decades to the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, and his government-in-exile.

"At the sight of the slightest dissent, the Chinese authorities react with force and repression, resulting in widespread and serious violations of human rights in Tibet," the Dalai Lama told thousands crammed into the courtyard of the main Bhuddist temple in Dharamsala.

China's policies in Tibet are "aimed at decimating (the) integral core of the Tibetan civilisation and identity," he added in a 20-minute speech given in Tibetan.

The bulk of the Dalai Lama's address was devoted to an appeal for Beijing to resume a dialogue with the exiled community after all contacts were cut by China in November.

"The only sensible and responsible way to address this problem is dialogue. There is no realistic alternative," he said, adding the "deep mistrust" between Tibetans and the Chinese would only dissipate through "face-to-face dialogue."

Despite overcast skies, the mood was extremely festive, with Tibetan flags flying all over town, and maroon-robed monks and nuns mingling with other exiles wearing green and yellow headbands.

In and around the temple, large banners pushed the messages of the Tibetan freedom movement.

"Throughout human history, dictators and totalitarian governments have learned that there is nothing more powerful than a people's yearning for freedom and dignity," said one banner.

"Stop sending Chinese settlers to Tibet. Tibetans are becoming a minority in their own country," read another.

Film stars Goldie Hawn and Richard Gere -- a vocal critic of China's policies in Tibet -- were among the crowd around the temple.

The Dalai Lama's "gift to this world is to remind all beings on this earth of their own potential to experience kindness and compassion," Hawn told AFP.

"It hurts my heart that these gentle people have been the object of abuse. I meditate for the freeing of Tibet and therefore the freeing of mankind," she said.

Chinese troops entered Tibet in October 1950, and nine years later on March 10, 1959, a fragile co-existence between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese authorities collapsed leading to an uprising against Beijing's rule.

The revolt was brutally suppressed by Chinese troops, forcing the Dalai Lama and his entourage to flee across the Himalayan mountains into exile in India.

In his speech, the Dalai Lama vowed that he would seek no official position once a mutually acceptable solution to the Tibetan issue had been found.

"A just and fair solution ... will enable me to give full assurance that I will use my moral authority to persuade the Tibetans not to seek separation," he said.

Expressing his gratitude to foreign governments and non-governmental organisations that have supported the Tibetan freedom struggle over the decades, the Dalai Lama reserved a special mention for US President Bill Clinton and the strong bipartisan support of the US Congress.

After the speech, the crowds marched through the streets of Dharamsala, shouting slogans like "Go Back Red Chinese" and "Open Tibet to the World."

A separate group of 100 activists embarked on a two-week peace march to Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh state, in which Dharamsala is located.

Security was tight for the anniversary, with the Tibetan community's own law and order personnel mixing with gun-toting Indian uniformed and plainclothes police who frisked those attending the event.

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Last updated: 10-Mar-99