The Dalai Lama has announced he does not support a boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games. The exiled spiritual leader’s home of Tibet has received increased international attention since the Chinese crackdown on dissident monks. In an interview with NBC News, the Dalai Lama said he does not want to punish China as a whole for the actions of its government.

NBC News’s Ann Curry: “Do you want the world to boycott the Olympic Games, to support your efforts in Tibet?”

Dalai Lama: “No.”

Curry: “Do you wish the President of the United States, and other world leaders might consider not attending the open ceremonies in support of your efforts in Tibet?”

Dalai Lama: “That’s up to them. It is very important to make clear, not only just the Tibet case, but in China proper, the record of human rights is poor.”