Kalon Tripa Meets Tibetan Lamas, Chinese
Paris, 25 May: Entering into the last leg of his tour to France, Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche yesterday held a meeting with the Representative and Bureau Du Tibet’s staff including the members offering their honorary service to the Representative’s office. Kalon Tripa thanked them for assisting the office and requested them to continue their benevolent work. Prof. Rinpoche had an hour-long meeting with Mr. Chen Liu Chuan, Cai Chun Goa and Sun wa Bang – all Chinese resident of France, accompanied by Ms. Marie Holzman, a well known sinologist. A whole range of issues was discussed, including the latest white paper ‘Regional Ethnic Autonomy in Tibet’ by China.
Rinpoche told them that he could not go through the texts in detail and hence could not give a definite opinion. On 17 point-agreement, Rinpoche informed them that Tibetans had denounced it as, firstly, it was signed under duress and secondly, China had violated every article though the Tibetans tried to adhere to it sincerely for eight years. The common ground for China and Tibet to move on towards dialogue is “Deng Xiao Ping’s declaration of 1979 that except for independence all other matters can be negotiated”. On this basis, His Holiness the Dalai Lama proposed the Strasbourg Proposal in which His Holiness gave up ‘independence’ for a genuine autonomy for Tibet under China, Rinpoche stated.
This was followed by a brief meeting with Mr. Jean Paul Ribes, President of CSPT, an old Tibet support group in France. Kalon Tripa and the Representative had 2-hour long luncheon meeting with Mr. Abensour and Mr. Consolo from Far East Division of the French foreign ministry.
It was a meaningful meeting, said Representative Tashi Phuntsok.
Rinpoche was later called on Dagpo Rinpoche, Mochok Rinpoche, Geshi Ngodup Tsering, Lama Sonam and Lama Norbu who represent the various Buddhist Dharma centres in France. Kalon Tripa told them that Tibetan Buddhist centres could jointly convene religious conferences in France like the one held last year in the United States. By so doing, Rinpoche added, the centres can work together to preserve Dharama.
A team from L’Express, a French weekly, interviewed Rinpoche. Later in the day, the Tibetan community of Paris hosted dinner reception in honour of the Kalon Tripa.
Kalon Tripa leaves for London tomorrow.
A report by OoT, Paris