‘Chinese leader with statesmanship could resolve the Tibet issue’
Friday, 5 September 2008, 3:55 p.m.
Dharamshala: Former major
general of the Indian army, Maj Gen (Retd) Vinod Saighal, underscored
that “the Chinese government under a leadership with a caliber of
statesmanship and maximum authority could facilitate an amicable
resolution of the issue of Tibet.”
 General (Retd) Vinod Saighal delivers a talk on “Appraising China” to an exclusive gathering of officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, in Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala, on 5 September 2008/Photo: Sangjey Kep |
Major General Saighal was addressing an exclusive gathering of
officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, on a lecture titled
‘Appraising China’, organised by the New Delhi-based Tibetan
Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre at Gangchen Kyishong on
Friday.
He also met and spoke to the members of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile on this same topic on Wednesday.
He said his connection with the Tibetan people started in 1999,
when received a private audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
He said China under the leadership of Deng-Xiaoping saved the
country from shame and destruction caused during Cultural Revolution,
and ushered in a policy of reform and liberalization on to the path of
remarkable progress.
“We hope, pray and look forward to a great Chinese leadership,
who will acknowledge the unimaginable suffering and destructions
inflicted on Tibetan people and every aspect of its rich heritage and
bring a mutually acceptable solution to resolve the issue of Tibet,” he
added.
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He said, “Even though China has all the cards and everything is
in its favour, but he has full hope and believe, that one day, the
issue of Tibet will be resolved,” adding that “If I don’t believe and
hope, I should not be here today to give this talk.”
While saying that every problem has a solution and by
anticipation, we will be able to shape the future, he said: “Change
will come in China and there is hope for peace in South East Asia and
Tibet.”
He said that the people of India will always extend moral support and stand in solidarity with the Tibetan cause.
After the talk, he also answered to questions from the audience.
Major General Saighal retired from the Indian Army in 1995. He
has since written several articles on a vast range of subjects and is
the author of the internationally acclaimed books, including ‘Third
Millennium Equipoise, Dealing with Global Terrorism:The Way Forward and
Global Security Paradoxes: 2000-2020’.
Currently he is the Executive Director of Eco Monitors Society
(EMS), a non-governmental organization concerned with demography and
ecology. After retirement he founded the Movement for Restoration of
Good Governance (MRGG). In 2000 he was invited to join the
Institutional Advisory Board of USFSS (United States Federation of
Scientists and Scholars).
