By Tenzin Dharpo

DHARAMSHALA, Aug. 27: Despite the stalled dialogue with the Chinese leadership in Beijing, the ‘Middle Way Approach’ is viable, said the President of the exile Tibetan government, known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration. Dr. Lobsang Sangay was speaking at the MWA workshop organized by his administration for representatives of different non-governmental organization here today.

The Tibetan President said that the MWA which seeks “genuine autonomy” as prescribed in the Chinese constitution refutes Beijing’s tagline that the 'CTA is a separatist group', adding that the official stance of the CTA takes into account primarily the welfare and aspirations of the Tibetans inside Tibet as well as help maintain the status quo between China and third nations.

The head of the Tibetan polity also said that the approach helps the current Tibetan struggle sustain a diplomatic vacuum in which the CTA can operate with legitimacy in the ever growing influence of China in the world.

The current Tibetan administration’s emphasis on the MWA inwards with training and sensitization drives for Tibetans may yet hold the key to portraying a united front in the Tibetan freedom movement in the long run, opines Choedak Gyamtso, a trainee at the workshop and the Vice-President of the Dharamshala based People’s Movement for Middle Way.

He told Phayul, “Despite overwhelming support for MWA, there is no full-fledged knowledge or awareness among the exile Tibetans hence initiatives such as this can help the masses to understand and learn about the stance to solidify the support.”

The ‘Middle Way Approach’ which was first introduced by the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama which seeks “genuine autonomy” as prescribed in the Chinese constitution, for all Tibetan regions, has a large support base among the exile Tibetans.

The exile Tibetan government has had 9 rounds of talks with the Beijing with the last round in 2010. The CTA has maintained that despite China’s rejection of the MWA, there is growing support for the same from international governments including the United States and the European Union as well as increasing number of Chinese intellectuals and pro-democracy community.