BY Kelsang Rinchen,
Phayul Reporter
Dharamsala, February 13 – In the wake of recent media reports about a proposed visit of Tibetan delegation to Tibet in March this year, speculations are rife in Dharamsala, the exile Tibetan headquarters since the brutal suppression of Tibet by the PLA troops.
A Guardian report highlighted that it has ‘learned’ about a possible dispatch of a second delegation to Tibet in March this year. But it does not mention any source of what would have really been a wish come true for the Dharamsala based government. The exile Tibetan government earlier has set June end 2003 as the deadline for any positive response from Beijing.
While His Holiness have always maintained that he wishes to return to Tibet and lead a life of a simple Buddhist monk, but whether it will happen in the near future as reported by Guardian is again speculative. But His Holiness has not said anything to that effect till date including the most recent press conference held at Bodh Gaya during the Kalachakra.
It seems Dharamsala will send its delegation hopefully before June this year if there is a positive response from the new government in Beijing headed by Hu Jin Tao who will have assumed office by then.
However, reports about some secret negotiations going on between the two sides as some newspapers have speculated seem baseless.
With the growing embarrassment for China’s human rights situation after the much-talked about execution of Lobsang Dhondup and sentencing to life of a Chinese dissident this week, it is time China realised the fact that its 2008 Olympic games might slip away from its hands if violation of human rights continues. Once China did understand the need for more relaxation in its crackdown on Tibetans and minorities for China’s own interest; Tibetan government could expect a more positive outcome from China. But who knows Hu, who takes charge in March and is known for his repressive policies in Tibet as TAR Party Secretary in the eighties, will turn out as expected is a question which has the answer with Mr. Hu himself.
Meanwhile, the Indian Police have now been freed from their ritual loading of angry Tibetan protestors in Police trucks on March 10 this year.
The exile Tibetan Government headed by the first democratically elected leader Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche issued a circular yesterday appealing its citizens to support their government’s efforts to create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue with Beijing. The circular requests all the Tibetans to refrain from any violent political outbursts against China on the 10 March (Tibetan National Uprising Day) this year. However, the circular also says that the day is immensely important for Tibet and the Tibetans that they should continue observing this day even after independence. The Kashag has asked its public to be careful not to misinterpret the meanings of terms like ‘self-rule’ and ‘complete independence’ while using them in information leaflets or speeches.
The Kashag has appealed all Tibetans particularly the government run offices and organisations to observe the day peacefully in compliance with the non-violent principles of the Tibetan government and hoped that not a slightest breach of non-violent principles of the government would be seen such as burning of Chinese effigies and flags. This, the Kashag hopes, will help the Tibetan government in its endeavours to bring China to table.
This seemed to have well understood already by the Delhi based angry Tibetan youngsters who usually do not let go off any opportunity to show their resentment against China since no reports came of any demonstration or barrier breaking during the recent four day trade fair at Pragati Maidan from February 5-8 organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with China as the partner nation.
But whether the appeal of Kashag will ultimately result in a complete adherence by the Tibetans all over depends on how well the Kashag designs its communication strategy for its public, the majority of whom will not disappoint their elected leader if one goes by the victory margin in the first democratic election of the Kalon Tripa.
Kelsang Rinchen can be contacted at kalsangr@yahoo.com
