By Tendar Tsering
DHARAMSHALA, June 6: The Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration has said that new Tibetan envoys for the stalled Sino-Tibet dialogue process will be appointed whenever China is ready to resume talks with Tibet.
Thubten Samphel, spokesperson for the Task Force on Negotiations under the CTA, told Phayul that the Tibetan side is “ready to appoint new envoys whenever China is ready to resume the dialogue process.”
When asked, Samphel declined from revealing names of Tibet’s next envoys.
“I can’t divulge into names right now but can assure that we are ready to appoint our envoys anytime if China shows willingness to dialogue with us.”
Asked whether the title “Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama” will be used for the next envoys, Samphel said “a suitable envoy” will be appointed according to the response from China.
Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay had accepted the resignations of Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lodi G. Gyari and Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen, last week.
The CTA in a release Sunday said that the elected Tibetan leader “regretfully” accepted their resignations.
The two Envoys, who have led nine rounds of talks with the People’s Republic of China since 2002, cited the deteriorating situation inside Tibet and their “utter frustration” over the lack of positive response from the China as reasons for their decision.
“Given the deteriorating situation inside Tibet since 2008 leading to the increasing cases of self-immolations by Tibetans, we are compelled to submit our resignations,” Gyari and Gyaltsen said in their resignation letter.
Dr Sangay, while accepting the resignation had praised the “invaluable” contributions of the Envoys to the Tibetan cause and said they will both continue to serve as members of the Task Force team.
“They have worked extremely hard in challenging circumstances and made earnest efforts to move the dialogue process forward and resolve the issue of Tibet peacefully,” Dr Sangay said in a statement.
“The Kashag (cabinet) will continue to rely on them for their wise counsel. They will remain as senior members of the Task Force team.”
The last round of talks between the Envoys of the Dalai Lama and representatives from the Chinese United Front Work Department was held more than two years ago in January 2010. Since then, the Chinese have refused to meet the Tibetan delegation.
The dialogue process has failed to yield much result, with the Envoys repeatedly stating that large differences still remained on “fundamental issues”.
The Kashag said that the Task Force on Negotiations, which was set up in 1999 to assist the Dalai Lama’s envoys in the dialogue process, will be expanded and will meet again in December 2012 to “discuss the Chinese leadership transition with the hope of continuing to dialogue with the new Chinese leaders to resolve the issue of Tibet peacefully.
