Tibetans to Remain Committed to Dialogue With Chinese Govt: Envoys

[Wednesday, 3 February 2010, 12:24 p.m.]

Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kasur Lodi Gyari, with Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen during their meeting with Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Du Qinglin during their meeting on 30 January 2010 afternoon. (Photo credit DIIR/CTA)

Dharamshala:
“We have clearly expressed to the Chinese government of our firm
commitment to continuing the dialogue process to resolve the issue of
Tibet,” the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama said Tuesday, adding
that “the Chinese leadership too attaches great importance to engage in
talks with us.” (Click here to watch press conference)Addressing
the media here on latest round of discussions on Tibet in China from 26
– 31 January, Special Envoy Kasur Lodi Gyari said: “We have absolutely
made it clear to the Chinese leadership that the issues that we
discussed are about the future of Tibetan people and their well being.
We strongly reiterated there is no personal matter concerning the
future status of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”Terming the
projection of Dalai Lama’s personal issue by the Chinese government as
mere political rhetoric, Kasur Lodi Gyari said the personal issue of
His Holiness the Dalai Lama was never on the agenda of our discussions
throughout the process since the contact with the Chinese government
was established in 1979.Emphasising “direct dialogue between
the Chinese government and the Tibetan leadership as the only way to
find a solution to issue of Tibet”, Kasur Lodi Gyari said “the
sincerity and efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama have sustained the
dialogue process and contacts with the Chinese government under the
leadership of Deng Xiaoping.”“It is our firm belief that direct
dialogue between the Chinese government and Tibetan leadership is the
only way forward to resolve the Tibetan issue. In order of us to
continue the dialogue process there should be some progress and
tangible steps to be taken by the Chinese government,” he said.“The
fundamental issue that needs to be resolved is the faithful
implementation of genuine autonomy that will enable the Tibetan people
to govern themselves in accordance with their own genius and needs,” he
said.Welcoming the Fifth Tibet Work Forum for its focus on
issues of development in all the Tibetan inhabited areas in Tibet, the
envoys spoke of their “strong belief that all Tibetan areas must be
under a uniform policy and a single administration. If we take away the
political slogans, many of the issues that have been prioritised by the
forum are similar to the basic needs of the Tibetan people outlined in
our memorandum,” Kasur Lodi Gyari said.The envoys offered
suggestions to the Chinese leadership on common effort to study the
actual reality on the ground, in the spirit of seeking truth from
facts. This will help both the sides to move beyond each other’s
contentions, he said.The envoys urged the Chinese government to
positively and sincerely to the note presented to them relating to the
Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for All Tibetans.Special Envoy
Lodi Gyari said he was “disappointed and worried about the sense of
great arrogance of the Chinese government on the future meeting between
President Obama and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.” I hope that China as
an ancient nation and with an ancient civilization, will be able to
handle the newly gained economic and political clout in much more
dignified and responsible manner. China is an important global power
with tremendous potential to play much more important global role and
on the issue of Tibet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has the moral
responsibility to knock the doors wherever he can to raise the concerns
of the Tibetan people, he added.On the “Four Not to Indulge In”
position laid out by the Chinese government, Kasur Lodi Gyari said: “We
told the Chinese leadership that we would thoroughly study the four
points, but at the same we told them very clearly of not making any
commitment from our side.”In his brief address, Envoy Kelsang
Gyaltsen said: “The commitment of the Tibetan leadership in exile is
not dependent of the temporary political attitude of the Chinese
government. Irrespective of the Chinese government’s attitude, the
policy of Tibetans is guided the principles of dialogue and
non-violence. Despite the lack of more understanding and positive
indication from the Chinese government on Tibet, meeting face to face
in dialogue offers the opportunity to argue, reason and to explain. It
is only through dialogue that we can achieve a mutually agreeable
solution to the issue of Tibet.”