Saturday, 18 November 2006, 12:00 PM
To
Mr. Hu Jintao
President,
Peoples’ Republic of China
Through the Chinese Embassy,
Chanakyapuri Diplomatic Conclave
New Delhi,
INDIA
Your Excellency,
The Standing Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile reflecting the hopes and aspirations of the six million people of Tibet draw your attention urgently to the following on the eve of your visit to India.
Historically, Tibet was an independent nation. However, for the last many years, His Holiness The Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership have been sincerely working towards a mutually acceptable solution to the Tibetan issue by giving up the demand for complete independence and instead calling for self-rule and genuine autonomy under the provisions of the Chinese Constitution. In spite of many rounds of envoy and delegation visits since the leadership of the late Deng Xiaoping, not much headway has been made towards a solution.
Tibet remains a neglected backyard of China. Instead, it is being ruthlessly exploited for its vast natural resources. Some projects that have been implemented are targeted towards making Tibet an international tourist destination. No real development, in terms of schemes for the local peoples’ welfare, has taken place. Basic human rights conditions are deplorable. The precious Tibetan religious heritage, its rich culture, customs, traditions and language are sought to be destroyed or at best ignored and discouraged. And, of late, there has been a visible hardening of the Chinese stance towards Tibetans both in and outside Tibet in the form of stringent implementation of the so called “patriotic religious education”, the blatant shooting on the Tibetan escapees at Nangpala pass and the heightened, bitter personal criticism of H.H The Dalai Lama. The sixth round of delegation visit has also been stalled, although the Tibetan side is ready. Another cause for concern is that during the last few years, there has been a reduction in the number of Tibetan cadres in general, and Tibetans in important posts in particular, in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan Prefectures.
These will not help to find an amicable solution. Means to such a solution should be based on compassion, consideration, conciliation and sincerity, and not on confrontation and mistrust. We, therefore, call upon the Chinese President to consider very seriously and sincerely the following demands of the Tibetan people: –
- There should be a meeting between the President of China and His Holiness The Dalai Lama as soon as possible and preferably on Indian soil. In 1954, His Holiness had met Chairman Mao in Beijing. India’s role as a facilitator is very important for many obvious reasons. Such a historic meeting will go a long way, not only in ironing out the real stumbling blocks, but building confidence amongst the peoples of Tibet and China as well as the international community.
- With the positive atmosphere that will be created by the meeting of the two leaders, real and earnest negotiations must commence immediately to work out the solution to the Tibetan issue.
- His Holiness The Dalai Lama has already expressed his wish to visit Tibet as well as China. The Chinese leadership should invite him to make such a visit without any preconditions. The huge amount of goodwill that will be generated by that visit will greatly benefit the negotiations also. It will further help to improve the moral standards of the society at large.
It is now upto the Chinese leadership to show their political will in resolving the issue of Tibet amicably, peacefully and speedily.
With due regards,
Yours faithfully,
(T.T karma Chophel)
Speaker
14th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile,
Dharamsala, INDIA
Copies to:
- Shri Man Mohan Singh, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
- Shri Pranab Mukherjee , Minister, External Affairs Ministry, India.
- Shri. L.K Advani, Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha.
- Shrimati Sonia Gandhi, President of the Congress Party and Chairperson of the UPA Coalition.
- The Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala.
- The kalon Tripa, Kashag , Dharamsala.
- The Representative, Bureau of H.H.the Dalai Lama, New Delhi.
(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration.)