Dharamshala: During his recent tour of the United Kingdom, Sikyong Penpa Tsering spoke to Sarah Montague on the “BBC Hard Talk” programme on a range of issues concerning Tibet in a 23 minute-long audio clip released on 5 May 2023.
On being asked what he wants for Tibet, Sikyong Penpa Tsering answered that he seeks genuine autonomy “not only in name but also in essence” based on the reality of the situation and “to resolve the Sino-Tibet conflict in a non-violent peaceful means through negotiations that should be mutually beneficial and lasting”.
Dismissing the Chinese government’s claims of the Tibetan administration as separatist and a main reason for not resuming negotiations, Sikyong clarifies that “China used to put precondition for His Holiness to say that Tibet has been part of China since antiquity or times immemorial, but that’s not the case. Tibet has been independent till Communist China invaded Tibet so that is the reality but then we leave the independent status of Tibet aside but ask for genuine autonomy for the benefit of Tibetans in the future.”
Sikyong also spoke about the threats to the Tibetan identity and culture among which he raised the recent policy of enforced enrolment of Tibetan children into colonial-style boarding schools. ” In these boarding schools, then you are taught Chinese, even the medium of instruction is Mandarin. Then you are taught Chinese history, historical version of Communist China, you are taught how to maintain allegiance to Communist Party”, he said.
About the poverty reduction and development claims by the CCP, Sikyong asserted the failure of the Chinese government to understand the real aspirations of Tibetans above their economic interests.
Considering the importance of preserving Tibet’s identity against the challenges of cultural erosion inside Tibet, Sikyong reiterated the successful revival of Tibetan Buddhism and traditional education in exile for the last 63 years.
Listen to the full audio here.