Tibet Support Groups Decide on Common Strategy at Sixth Conference
[Surajkund, Haryana, 7 November, 2010]: The
Sixth International Conference of Tibet Support Groups concluded with a
moving farewell address by Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche and analytical
remarks by the Chief Guest, Mr. Kanwal Sibal, former Indian Foreign
Secretary, highlighting why resolution of the Tibetan issue was
important to the world. It also saw encouraging remarks from Mr. Chin
Jin, Vice Chair of Federation of a Democratic China, and suggestions
from Mr. Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, activities
that the TSGs could undertake to strengthen parliamentary and
governmental support for Tibet. Earlier, the conference
unanimously passed the Surajkund Statement and Action Plan on Tibet
expressing the TSGs commitment to work together to forge a strong
international coalition that will pursue a common strategy for
alleviating the plight of the people of Tibet and encouraging a
political solution to the Tibetan issue. The statement applauded the
extraordinary and continued support rendered by the government and the
people of India to the Tibetan people that has enabled them to
establish a firm foundation for the preservation and promotion of
Tibetan identity in exile. The conference welcomed the
increased participation by Chinese delegates in the conference and
regarded this as a measure of the growing realization and support among
the Chinese people about the reality of the Tibetan people and their
future involvement towards a solution for Tibet. It also welcomed the
noticeable increase in delegates from Southeast Asia.The action
plan included several campaigns planned relating to Tibetan
environment, human rights and above all on garnering political support
for the Tibetan issue in countries throughout the world.Prof.
Samdhong Rinpoche was requested to address the gathering, since he cut
short his scheduled speech on the inaugural day on account of the
shortage of time then. Rinpoche expressed his gratitude to the TSGs for
their cooperation saying he greatly valued them. He then reiterated two
suggestions that had been made in his written statement that was
circulated to the participants. First, he referred to a distinction,
made by Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi during the Indian freedom
movement, between constructive and agitative activities. Emphasizing
the need to undertake activities that are constructive, Rinpoche said
that if some activities of an agitation nature cannot be undertaken, it
will not be of any big harm. But if constructive work to achieve
justice for the Tibetan people are not undertaken, there will be
hurdles in the resolution of the Tibetan problem.Secondly, he
suggested that TSGs should choose one specific day, apart from the
usual days that are being observed, on which all Tibet supporters
observe silence, fasting and prayer. He added that the prayer should
not just be for the suffering people of Tibet, but for all the people
in the People’s Republic of China who have wisdom. He said the prayers
should also be for those people who are suffering under totalitarian
regimes adding that such an event will result in some significant
results. When the Kalon Tripa finished his remarks, he was given a
lengthy standing ovation by the participants. Speaker
Penpa Tsering, in his address, offered the greetings of the Tibetan
Parliament to all the participants. He stressed the importance of the
TSGs dealing with their governments and parliaments. He talked about
the World Parliamentarian groups on Tibet and the establishment of the
International Network of Parliamentarians on Tibet (INPat) and urged
the TSGs to work closely with the International Campaign for
Tibet-Europe, which has been designated as INPaT secretariat, to
strengthen parliamentary support for Tibet.Speaker Tsering also
suggested that the TSGs think of establishing a new platform,
consisting of Tibet supporters in state and provincial governments and
legislatures. He said such a platform was already established in
Italy. Chief Guest Kanwal Sibal talked about his deep
attachment to the Tibetan cause, not merely because of political and
geopolitical reasons. Referring to the fact that this conference was
taking place during the time of the Indian festival of lights, Diwali,
he hoped that we may see the light at the end of the tunnel on Tibet
soon.Mr. Sibal said that the tibetan issue needs to be
supported for several reasons. First, it is a non-violent struggle, he
said adding that this is a moral force that makes the issue unique. He
said that in the Tibetan struggle, there is no extremism, no
radicalism, no jihad, and no suicide bombers. When there are so many
problems around the world today and indiscriminate force is being used
by some to solve them, he said that the Tibetan struggle that uses
non-violent should be supported. Secondly, the Tibetan issue is a just cause and the world is convinced of this, he said. Therefore, it needs to be supported. Thirdly,
Tibet embodies the principle of respect for diversity, ethnic, cultural
and religious differences, Mr. Sibal said, adding that these values
give stability to the world order. Mr. Sibal said the Tibetan
issue is an issue of human rights. The Tibetan issue represents the
most important issue in international human rights concerns because the
entire people is affected, he added. He said that the Tibetan issue is
a litmus test of change in China. He said those who advocate a policy
of reaching out to China have believed in that this will help in
integration of China to the world and that there will be
democratization in China. He said China needs to be a society that has
tolerance of dissidence, that respects diversity, differences in
culture and religion. So how China deals with the Tibetan issue will
indicate how China will change for the future.From Indian
viewpoint, Mr. Sibal said the Tibetan issue is a key to India-China
friendship. He said it is Tibet that continues to divide India and
China for no fault of ours. China uses Tibet to make territorial
demands, he said. Once the Tibetan issue is resolved within the
framework of Chinese sovereignty, a solution to India-China
relationship can be envisaged, he said.Mr. Sibal praised His
Holiness the Dalai Lama saying he embodies the greatest spiritual
tradition of India. He also said the institution of the Dalai Lama has
changed greatly over the years saying His Holiness is democratic, open
and had an eclectic approach and thinking.He said while the
Tibetan leadership has changed, in contrast there is a recent
assertiveness among the Chinese leadership. He said the way China has
become more demanding is beginning to cause concern and people are no
longer believing that China’s rise will be peaceful. He said that
despite economic and other tremendous developments in China, you don’t
see the kind of change there in the political system. Referring
to His Holiness and the Tibetan in exile, Mr. Sibal said here is a
leadership that is non-violent, a people that is peaceful, and their
country being more and more militarized.He talked about the
importance of the Tibetan environment saying it is a major issue with
its impact not just in the region but in the world.Mr. Sibal
concluded that if the Tibetan cause succeeds, it will not only be for
the better future of Tibetans, but for the better future of the region
and the world.Mr. Chin Jin, Vice Chairman of the Federation for
a Democratic China, spoke next. He said that Tibet is historically a
nation state currently under political control of Communist China. He
added that as a Chinese he respects any political choice Tibetans
decide to make. Seeking independence is a right of Tibetans, he said,
adding that seeking autonomy is also their right and that he supports
any decision that Tibetans make.He added that both Chinese and
Tibetans have a common goal for human rights and liberty. He talked
about the Tibetans having three options, 1) becoming a neutral state
like Switzerland; 2) China becoming a democracy with Tibet achieving a
status like that of Hong Kon; and 3) Tibet becoming culturally
dominated by Han Chinese. He said the third option was something that
will be detrimental as Tibet would then follow in the footstep of
Manchuria. He added that Tibetans and Chinese have jobs to do together
and need to undertake joint campaigns.Kalon Kesang Y. Takla of
the Department of Information & International Relations then
thanked everyone who had contributed in the organizing of the
conference and officials then offered scarves to all the participants
on behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration.Prior to the
scheduled morning session, Mr. Kai Mueller, Executive Director of
International Campaign for Tibet, Germany, gave a briefing on the
International Parliamentarians Network on Tibet. Dr. Anand Kumar,
National Co-Convener of the Core Group of Tibetan Cause-India, was the
Master of Ceremony for the concluding session.
