Home > News Archive > Middle-Way to continue, talks to suspend

Middle-Way to continue, talks to suspend

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

Karma Chophel and Gyari Dolma, speaker and deputy speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile during a press conference after the Special Meeting of the exile Tibetans in Dharamshala, India, on 23 November 2008.Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

Exile Tibetans agreed to continue with the Dalai Lama’s Middle-Way policy to achieve autonomy for Tibet, but asked the exile Tibetan government to suspend further talks with China unless China is sincere about solving the Tibetan issue.

A Special Meeting in Dharamshala of 581 influential and opinion-making Tibetans-in-exile, from 19 different countries, called upon the Kashag (the Tibetan exile government cabinet) to terminate the on-going talks because the Chinese leadership have not acceded to any of the demands made by the Tibetan side.

“There is no use in continuing the talks,” announced Karma Choephel, the speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile who was overseeing the meeting.

Although the talks were suspended indefinitely, whether there was a time frame was unclear.

The meeting, which concluded today, was called by the Dalai Lama to decide the future direction of the Tibetan movement.

Delegates of the meeting reaffirmed their faith in the leadership of the Dalai Lama and agreed to honour any policy he would adopt as and when he sees appropriate.

“We have reaffirmed that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the sole representative and leader of the Tibetan people,” Chophel said.

The meeting blamed China for the failure of the talks, saying the Tibetan demand for genuine autonomy was rejected by the Chinese government.

Tibetans may demand independence or self-determination in the future if China fails to grant autonomy.

“If China does not respond positively to our initiative, Tibetans would be forced to change the policy to independence,” Chophel said.

Tibetans rejected the Chinese accusation that unrest in Tibet in March and April was instigated by the Dalai Lama and the exile Tibetans. “The uprisings in Tibet were against the wrong policies of the Chinese government for the last 49 years.”

“We invited the Chinese government officials to come to Dharamshala to even look into our files to see if they instigated Tibetans to rise against the Chinese government.”

The meeting also rejected the Chinese government role in recognising incarnated Lamas. “We have our own tradition of recognising the incarnated Lamas,” Chophel said.

The participants pledged that whatever political stand Tibetans will follow, they will commit to non-violence means to achieve any goal.

The Dalai Lama will meet the participants tomorrow and will meet the press later.

Copyright © 2008 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun