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Disheartened Dalai Lama reaches out to his people

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

A file photo of the Dalai Lama during a press conference in Dharamshala, India, on 16 March 2008. He asked the participants of the six-day special meeting for the future of Tibet to take responsibility to bring the best possible course of action to advance the Tibetan cause.Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

Frustrated by the lack of any outcome in the talks between his envoys and Chinese leaders, the Dalai Lama asked his people to come up with ideas for the best possible actions to be taken to resolve the issue of Tibet.

The Dalai Lama issued a special message ahead of a six-day Special General Meeting, which will start 17 November, for Tibetans to decide the future of Tibet

He said that until now Tibetans have followed the Middle-Way Approach to achieve greater autonomy for Tibet, which received widespread appreciation from the international community, as well as support from many Chinese intellectuals, but there have been no positive signs or changes in Tibet.

“PRC policies towards Tibet and the Tibetans have remained unchanged,” he said.

Accepting failure in the talks, he revealed that he had planned to forsake further talks after the sixth round of talks in 2007.

”But, because of the urgency of the situation in Tibet after the events of March this year, we held informal discussions in the beginning of May, followed by the seventh and eighth rounds of talks in July and at the beginning of November, so as not to leave any stone unturned. Nevertheless, no real progress was made,“ he said.

“At that time I was hopeful that the PRC government would find a solution based on the reality on the ground. However, on the contrary, the Chinese government has completely ignored and rejected Tibetan feelings and aspirations by brutally cracking down on them, using the accusation that they were ‘splittists’ and ‘reactionaries’ as an excuse.”

Eight rounds of talks have taken place between the Dalai Lama’s envoys and the Chinese leaders since contact between the two sides was restored in 2002, which had broken down in 1993.

The Middle-Way Approach was formulated in the early 1970s, as a policy the Dalai Lama believes is mutually beneficial for both Tibet and China. This policy was an outcome of much deliberation and discussion with Tibetan leaders who represented the Tibetan people. The Dalai Lama, however, stated that the Tibetan people themselves will have the final say on the policy.

The Dalai Lama called for the Special Meeting to understand the real opinions and views of the Tibetan people through free and frank discussions.

Around 600 influential Tibetans are expected to gather for the conclave.

“It must be clear to all that this special meeting does not have any agenda for reaching a particular predetermined outcome,” Dalai Lama said.

Keeping in view the inspiring courage of the Tibetans inside Tibet, the current world situation, and the present intransigent stance of the Chinese government, he asked all the participants to express their views in a spirit of equality, cooperation and collective responsibility, to bring the best possible course of action to advance the Tibetan cause.

“This meeting should take place in an atmosphere of openness, putting aside partisan debate. Rather, it should focus on the aspirations and views of the Tibetan people. I appeal to everyone concerned to work together to contribute as best as they can.”

Copyright © 2008 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun