His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Representative meets Chinese Intellectuals in Japan[Wednesday, 7 April 2010, 4:03 p.m.]

From right: Kalon Tempa Tsering, Representative Lhakpa Tshoko and Kasur Jetsun Pema participating in the Japanese Flower Festival in Tokyo

Tokyo:
Kalon Tempa Tsering and Kasur Jetsun Pema, who are in Tokyo on a
fortnight visit organised by Tibet supporters, met a group of Chinese
intellectuals on 4 April. It was an informal meeting aimed to
facilitate free exchange of ideas in resolving the issue of Tibet.
Kalon Tempa Tsering, who is the His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s
representative at New Delhi Bureau, greeted the gathering of Chinese
scholars and updated them on the current status of Sino-Tibetan
dialogue and the Chinese leadership’s indifferent attitude towards the
‘Memorandum on genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people’, which was
submitted to them by the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Kalon
Tempa Tsering explained the gist of the nature of autonomy that
Tibetans are hoping for.The Chinese groups, consisting of
university professors and writers, spoke at individual as well as
societal level. They expressed respect and appreciation to the effort
of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in resolving Tibetan issue peacefully
and within the framework of Chinese constitution. They agreed that past
is past and the two sides need to work on the future, but they
expressed doubt about the direction of Tibet issue after Dalai Lama.
They sought clarification on certain issues like “Greater Tibet,
High-level autonomy”.Kalon Tempa Tsering clarified that in the
memorandum submitted by Tibetan side, nothing like “Greater Tibet or
High-level Autonomy” is demanded. “We worked meticulously to keep our
demand within the framework of the Chinese constitution,” he added.The
participants expressed that such informal discussions should be
organised whenever possible so that misunderstanding, in any forms,
could be clarified and combined effort could be made to resolve the
differences.

After the
meeting, Kalon Tempa Tsering and Kasur Jetsun Pema attended an informal
picnic event arranged by Tibetan and Mongolian Community in Japan.
Taking the benefit of on-going Japanese Sakura Flower Viewing Festival
[Hanami] at Koganei Park in Tokyo, a picnic gathering was arranged to
provide Japanese, Mongolian, Chinese and Tibetan community an informal
platform to socialise and to interact among themselves and with the
visiting ministers.Amidst the blossoming Sakura flower [cherry
blossom] tree, around hundred Japanese, Tibetans, Mongolians and
Chinese gathered to enjoy barbeque and some light moment under the
enchanting beauty of Sakura flowering branches. Japanese and Chinese
members played Tibetan dra-nyen [lute], harmonica and sang song for the
visiting guests.The participants greeted and interacted openly,
many expressed happiness to see people from four major Asian countries
sitting together and sharing moment of peace and understanding under
Sakura [cherry blossom] trees. Kalon Tempa Tsering and Kasur Jetsun
Pema interacted with the participants and took photos with them.Leaving
early from the picnic event, Kasur Jetsun Pema interacted with some 80
students of elementary to High school level and their parents from
Hajime Juku School of Odawara and shared her views with the young
children and their parents on ‘Value Education’ based on love and
compassion at Koganei Shokokaikan Hall.Kalon Tempa Tsering and
Kasur Jetsun Pema will leave for Okinawa tomorrow, where similar talks
and discussion events are planned to address the Okinawan people about
Tibet issue and Tibetan education system. It was reported that interest
in Tibet issue and Tibetan culture has surged greatly in the island
since the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the region last year.–Report filed by Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tokyo