Statement by Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kasur Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari
 (from right) Kasur Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, special envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen addressing media persons,in Dharamshala, 8 May 2008. The two envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama held informal talks on Tibet with their Chinese counterparts in the Chinese city of Shenzhen on Sunday, 4 May. |
Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen and I had the honour of briefing His Holiness
the Dalai Lama immediately after our arrival yesterday from China.
Kalon Tripa, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, joined us in the briefing. We
also briefed the Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Dolma Gyari, this morning. The
Speaker, Mr. Karma Choephel, is currently on an official visit.
On 4 May 2008 in Shenzhen, China, we met with Executive Vice
Minister Zhu Weiqun and Vice Minister Sithar of the United Front Work
Department of the Chinese Communist Party. We would like to express our
appreciation to the hosts for accepting our suggestion to hold this
informal meeting in Shenzhen as well as agreeing to a meeting of
principals without aides. Executive Vice Minister Zhu Weiqun and Vice
Minister Sithar were our counterparts for the last several years. This
long relationship made it possible to have open and frank discussions
in a friendly and respectful atmosphere, despite the prevailing tense
and grave situation in Tibet.
Our main purpose of seeking this urgent informal meeting was to
discuss the critical situation in Tibet. There were strong and
divergent views on the nature as well as the causes of the recent
tragic events in Tibet. These views were expressed in a frank and
candid manner. On our part we rejected categorically the accusation
made against His Holiness the Dalai Lama of instigating the
demonstrations and unrest in Tibet. Instead we made it clear that the
events in Tibet are the inescapable consequences of wrong policies of
the authorities towards the Tibetans, which goes back several decades.
The recent crisis in Tibet is a clear symptom of deeply felt grievances
and resentment of the Tibetans with these policies. The task at hand is
to address the legitimate concerns of the Tibetan people in a realistic
and constructive way.
We have stressed the importance of ending the current
repression throughout Tibet. We have called for the release of
prisoners, to allow those injured to be given proper medical treatment
and give unfettered access to visitors, including the media. We have
also called for an end to the “patriotic re-education” campaign which
is deeply resented by the Tibetan people.
We also rejected the accusation that His Holiness the Dalai
Lama is sabotaging the Olympic Games 2008. On the contrary, we made it
clear that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has consistently and
unambiguously supported the Beijing Olympic Games right from the
beginning.
Despite major differences on important issues both sides
demonstrated a willingness to seek common approaches in addressing the
issues at hand. In this regard, each side made some concrete proposals,
which can be part of the future agenda. As a result an understanding
was reached to continue the formal round of discussions. A date for the
seventh round will be finalised soon after mutual consultations.
We welcome the recent statement of President Hu Jintao that his
government is “serious” about the dialogue and his acknowledging that
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is being “conscientious and serious”. This
statement is encouraging at a time when there is growing skepticism
about China’s sincerity in resolving the Tibet issue through dialogue.
08 May 2008
Dharamsala
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