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China rejected the most reasonable proposal: envoys

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

Two envoys of the Dalai Lama Lodi Gyari (r) and Kelsang Gyaltsen addressing a press conference in Dharamshala on 16 November 2008. Gyari said that China has either misunderstood or attempted to distort their proposal for autonomy for Tibet. He also said the total failure of the talks are due to insincerity of the Chinese government.Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

Accepting total failure of their talks with the PRC, the envoys of the Dalai Lama blamed the Chinese government for their insincerity in responding to the efforts of the Dalai Lama for the last many decades.

“There is total lack of willingness to seriously reciprocate the sincere and serious efforts of the Dalai Lama,” said Lodi Gyari during a press conference in Dharamshala.

“Our biggest disappointment is the Chinese government’s unwillingness to make even one small step in Tibet,” he added.

The two envoys of the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, assisted by three aides, were in Beijing for the eighth round of talks from 30 October to 5 November.

Gyari said that China’s repressive policies have increased in Tibet, especially after the recent uprising in Tibet begining 10 March of this year. “The envoys were sent for talks year after year to bring some relief to the sufferings of the Tibetan people in Tibet.”

He further charged China with having actually one country, three systems, rather than the one it publicises, “one country, two systems”: “Hong Kong and Macau has one system, the rest of China has another, and Tibet has a different system.”

The envoys had presented a memorandum on genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people to the Chinese leaders.

The memorandum outlined how demands for Tibetan nationality for autonomy and self-government can be met through application of the principles on autonomy of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China.

The memorandum, which was made public, said, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama felt confident that the basic needs of the Tibetan nationality can be met through genuine autonomy within the PRC.”

The Dalai Lama’s commitment to seek a solution for the Tibetan people within the PRC is “clear and unambiguous”. This position is in full compliance and agreement with paramount leader Deng Xiaoping’s statement in which he emphasised that except for independence all other issues could be resolved through dialogue, the memorandum stated.

In an unprecedented press conference on 10 November, Zhu Weiqun, China’s minister in charge of Tibetan affairs, said that “serious differences remain” and no progress was made at recent talks with envoys of the Dalai Lama and accused the exiled leader of trying to split Tibet from China.

He said that the unification of the motherland, territorial integrity and national dignity are in the greatest interests of the Chinese people. “On these fronts, we won’t make any concessions, at any time and for anyone.”

Gyari said that either China has misunderstood or has attempted to distort some of the fundamental issues that have been discussed with the Chinese leaders.

The memorandum is asking to fulfil some basic needs of Tibetans, including the right to use their language, practice their culture and religion, have their own education system, protect the environment, control utilisation of natural resources, economic development and trade, run a public health system, oversee public security, regulate population migration, and coordinate cultural, educational and religious exchanges with other countries.

If the above conditions are fulfilled, with Tibet as a part of the multi-national state of the PRC, Tibetans can benefit greatly from the rapid economic and scientific development the country is experiencing, according to the memorandum.

“While wanting to actively participate and contribute to this development, we want to ensure that this happens without the people losing their Tibetan identity, culture and core values and without putting the distinct and fragile environment of the Tibetan plateau, to which Tibetans are indigenous, at risk,” the memorandum said.

However, Gyari explained that China even sees Tibetans using Tibetan language as an act of splitism. The practice of Buddhism is also seen as having a hidden agenda to separate Tibet from China. “This is the reason why we are deeply disappointed. But they were absolutely adamant in rejecting our most reasonable proposal, which is tailored according to the Chinese constitution,” he said.

He also added that they have not discussed any future rounds of talks with Chinese leaders.

Copyright © 2008 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun