Middle-Way Policy On The Anvil Again
Tuesday, 21 September 2005, 9.39AM
Dharamshala: The Middle-Way Approach is being tossed around the Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies one more time.
But the zeitgeist this time is to compliment not supplant, as the 46-member highest legislative organ of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) speak their minds on a resolution proposed by Chithue (deputy) Tenzin Gonpo.
If passed, the resolution will require formation of a special committee, jointly by the Assembly and the Kashag, to map out a concrete action plan based on the Middle-Way Approach.
The approach propounded by His Holiness the Dalai Lama avoids the two extremesâ€â€ÂÂthe state of present Tibet under China and that of an independent Tibetâ€â€ÂÂby opting for a high degree of autonomy for a Tibet in its entirety.
After a series of democratic processes, including one opinion poll, the Assembly adopted the approach as a policy in September 1997.
In 2003, the incumbent 13th Assembly first passed a resolution to review the Middle-Way Approach in the absence of positive response from China by March 2005.
However, in its very next, eighth, session in May 2004, the same resolution was revoked with an overwhelming majority.
Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche has reiterated on numerous occasions that only His Holiness or a referendum can alter the Middle-Way policy of the CTA.
(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration.)