By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, APR. 12: The Taiwanese capital Taipei over the weekend hosted a landmark meeting that saw over 30 prominent Tibetan, Hong Konger and Taiwanese movement leaders and youth activists converge and exchange notes in what the organizers described as a nexus to build “strategic alliance for freedom, democracy, and self-determination”.
The common link amongst the representatives of the three participating countries; China remains the focal point on the table.
The maiden conference recognized the Dharamshala based exile Tibetan government, officially known as the Central Tibetan Administration as the legitimate representative of the Tibetan people and expressed support to the Tibetan people in their struggle for a free Tibet.
Exile Tibetan legislators such as activist group Students for a Free Tibet, Asia Director, Dorjee Tsetan, Australasia MP Kyizom Dongdue and Gu-Chu-Sum Director Lhagyari Namgyal Dolkar as well as civil society components in exile such as Tibetan Youth Congress President, Tenzing Jigme, SFT Director Pema Yoko and activist Tenzin Tsundue were seen participating in the roundtable discussion. Hang Tung Chow, Hong Kong Democracy Activist, Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan, Lin Hsin, and Taiwanese legislator Freddy Lim were seen engaged in the proceedings that took place from April 7-9.
“New waves of youth movements such as the Umbrella Revolution in Hong Kong, the Sunflower Movement in Taiwan, and the Lhakar Movement in Tibet have activated the political consciousness of a new generation and emboldened them to pursue their fundamental rights,” said Dorjee Tseten.
“Given the political changes taking place in China, and new threats and opportunities arising amid changing geopolitical circumstances, we believe it is critical for leaders of different movements to join forces and build a united alliance against a common threat – the CCP,” added Dorjee.
The conference called for the immediate release of Taiwanese human rights activist Li Ming-Che, Chinese activists Su Changlan and Chen Qitang and Tashi Wangchuk, Tibetan language rights activist in Tibet who faces 15 years in Chinese jail.
The collaborative exercise amongst the representatives at Taipei brought together like-minded activists and youth leaders attempting to forge ahead, “new horizons of possibilities in our activism, and provide a unique platform for activists from these three movements to share skills and resources, and exchange stories and experiences of nonviolent resistance with each other. We plan to develop a long-term vision for coordination among the three movements, and devise strategies to safeguard the freedom, democracy, and human rights that are threatened or suppressed by the CCP regime,” the joint press release stated.
