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Tibetan struggle will remain non-violent: exile PM

ANI

Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche interacts with the press after a public talk in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala in May 2008. Rinpoche said that China is not mature enough, but assured that Tibetans will remain non-violent in their struggle for a free Tibet.File photo/AFP/Getty Images/India

Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche, on Friday, stated that China is “not mature enough”, but assured that Tibetans would continue to tread the path of non-violence while fighting for their cause.

Addressing a religious prayer meeting in Ahmedabad to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 61st death anniversary, Rinpoche expressed hope that the Chinese leadership will work towards finding a solution to the “Tibetan issue”.

The Tibetan freedom struggle is inspired by the principles of non-violence and truth advocated by “Father of the Nation” Mahatma Gandhi during the Indian freedom struggle. The Tibetan freedom struggle assumed a political dimension particularly after widespread uprising in Tibet in March 2008.

Rinpoche, after offering prayers at Sabarmati Ashram, set up by Gandhi during India’s freedom struggle, said that if Tibet is able to commit to non-violence consistently, there is no way that China cannot change.

Tibetan exiles all over the world have been staging protests against the alleged Chinese suppression in their homeland.

Spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama has also expressed his hope that China will eventually change its policy against Tibet.

The Dalai Lama, a Noble Laureate, has been living in exile in India since 1959 after a failed insurrection in Tibet against the Chinese rule.

Envoys of the Dalai Lama and China held talks in 2008 after a series of riots which took place in Tibet. China brands the Dalai Lama as a “splittist” accusing him of causing the unrest. However, the spiritual leader denied the charge, saying he is only seeking greater autonomy for Tibet.

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