Kalon Tripa affirms commitment to the Middle-Way Approach

Monday, 21 April 2008, 4:38 p.m.

Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche says the Central Tibetan Administration refutes Chinese government’s baseless allegations (Photos:Sangjey Kep)

Dharamshala: Kalon Tripa
Samdhong Rinpoche reiterated on Saturday that despite the recent
upheaval in Tibet, there is no change in the policy and possibility of
any review on the Middle-Way Approach.

“The Central Tibetan Administration is open to hold meaningful
dialogue with the Chinese leadership,” he said while addressing staff
members of the Central Tibetan Administration, prior to a regular
prayer session on 19 April.

Terming the Chinese government’s allegations as totally
baseless, Kalon Tripa said, “There is no iota of truth in their
(Chinese leaders) claim that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has blocked
the door of negotiations.

“His Holiness the Dalai Lama has always supported that China should hold the much waited Olympic Games,” he said.

Kalon Tripa added: “We hope for the smooth passage of the torch around the world and that the relay will end successfully.”

However, he said, China’s plan to carry the torch in Tibet will only
cause embarrassment to the people in Tibet who are suffering the brunt
of China’s violent crackdown. It will bring no good to both China and
Tibet.

Kalon Tripa said by resorting to force to maintain peace and
order in Tibet by the Chinese authorities has in fact deteriorated the
situation, instead of restoring normalcy.

Kalon Tripa also said His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the
Central Tibetan Administration have left no stone unturned in working
out a solution to the recent unrest in Tibet. The Tibetan Solidarity
committee convened by Kashag and the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has
been successfully implementing a concerted approach.

Across all the major cities in India, a plethora of non-violent
campaigns, including peace march, candle-light processions, shaving
heads, hunger strikes, mock funerals, mock arrests and mock wounded
Tibetans were carried out since 10 March.

Western governments, including US, France, Germany and Britain
have called upon the Chinese leadership to start dialogue with
representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

There is also a growing support for the Tibetan cause from the countries of East Asia, Kalon Tripa said.

Kalon Tripa underlined the need to sustain the high degree of
support that Tibet has received and use it in bringing positive
developments in China.

The Central Tibetan Administration will come out with a white
paper to counter all the propaganda and baseless allegations leveled by
China, Kalon Tripa.