Central Tibetan Administration President Lobsang Sangay speaks during the opening of the 5-50 Vision Conference in Dharamshala, India, on 13 September 2018. Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal
By Lobsang Wangyal
McLEOD GANJ, India, 13 September 2018
President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Lobsang Sangay opened a conference to discuss the future course of the Tibetan cause.
Dubbed “5-50 Vision”, the conference is aimed at approaching the Tibetan issue for the next five years to gain autonomy for Tibet under China through the Middle-Way Policy. It will also focus on sustaining the Tibetan struggle and culture in the next 50 years in the case that the situation lasts longer.
In the next four days, Tibetan representatives and experts from around the world will give their opinions and suggestions on: Sustaining Tibetan culture, economic development of Tibetan community in India, improving the quality of education in Tibetan schools, and creating a healthy Tibetan community.
It was felt that in light of the current situation, in which there have been no talks with China since President Sangay acceded to the highest post in the exile Tibetan administration, the number of Tibetans in settlements have dwindled greatly, and the Dalai Lama’s advancing age, holding a conference became crucial for collecting suggestions and feedback to chalk out a future course of action for tangible results.
Along with top CTA leaders, other prominent personalities participating in the conference are USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia Ann Marie Yastishock, Director of Amnye Machen Institute Tashi Tsering Josayma, and Sociologist from Jawaharlal Nehru University Dr Renuka Singh.
The conference is organised by Social and Resource Development (SARD), Department of Finance, CTA. SARD is part of the Tibetan Self-Reliance and Resilience programme funded by USAID.
What will come out of this meeting? To be honest we all know where funds and efforts are needed. Every effort is needed in resuming dialogue with China. Sikyong has failed to do anything about that. There’s obviously some talks going on between Ganden Phodrang and the Chinese government. HHDL recently said that he may go to China in the next two years. LS has no role in these talks. He only revealed that Samdhong Rinpoche was in Tibet/China because he came to know about it. He shouldn’t have revealed that.
Funds should be allocated on education and health, and rehabilitation of earthquake hit Tibetans in Nepal. No good funds are going to these fields. New arrivals from Tibet and the old people in different settlements need care. But nothing is happening to them.
Sikyong always like to make sweet-sounding rhymes like 5-50 and 5Ms. What happened to his slogan Unity, Innovation and Self-reliance? Unity is totally broken now. Innovation and Self-reliance? What are they, where are they?
We need output, not loudput. There’s still two and half more year for him to pull through to bring about some solid results. Don’t waste the few million dollars on conferences and workshops. Create some jobs, scholarships and vocational trainings, raise scholarship money. Leave the black sun glasses and try to network with politicians to make Middle Way work and succeed. Make efforts to bring Tibetans together. Sticking to ego is not leadership and activism. Otherwise we will have wasted ten years. REALLY.
All landmark decisions by exile government had been taken by Dalai Lama and his close associates.
Now, in 2018, when Dalai Lama was completely abandoned by ALL world leaders – and invited only to university campuses – and CTA on the road to death, Lobsang Sangay wants to give a semblance of collective leadership. This man is giving a sense of involvement to Tibetan people because in five years, CTA will be no more.
For me, this is all effort to stop resentment and dissent coming on dalai lama’s way, after realizing we have nothing left now.
besides, Indian Home minister Kiren Rijiju said ‘Tibetans have become indians, and will be well-looked after’ few days back in Dehradun. So problem of exile Tibetans is sorted. Everyone will get indian passport after dalai lama’s death. So, what future of tibet is LS talking about?
we are indians, americans, french, swiss, canadians, nepalese, chinese. Most sons and daughters of CTA officials have become US citizens. so naturally public follows the leaders, as sheep follow the shepherd.
Ha ha, our Sikyong la is funny. With Chitue session at the threshold, our Sikyong la is busy again with the 5/50 meetings, appointment of Chinese Liaison Officer in Washington DC, etc. etc. I thought our Sikyong la said he will bring His Holiness to His rightful place (Tibet) during his Sikyong term… Hello Sikyong la, knock knock. 5/50 seems like a good exit strategy. Geshe Lhakdor la was right, by the time we get to ’50’ everyone in the 5/50 will be gone. Gone with the wind Sikyong la. What happened to your Unity, Sustainability and Innovation stuff? Again, Gone with the Wind.