By Rhik Kundu / The Times of India
BANGALORE: The law graduate from Harvard uses social networking sites to fight for his cause — a safe Tibet. Tibetan Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay tells STOI there will be no compromise on democracy and non-violence to achieve Tibet’s goals. Excerpts:
What is the Tibetan government-inexile doing to highlight the increasing number of self- immolation cases in Tibet?
We have declared 2013 as ‘Solidarity with-Tibet Year’ . Starting December 10, which is commemorated as Human Rights Day, we will organize events, rallies, conferences, and discussions in different cities across the world, such as New York, Geneva and New Delhi, which have A strong UN presence. We have also launched a website, solidarity withtibet.org, which consists of a sixminute video on atrocities committed by China in Tibet, and links to social networking sites to create awareness on the cause.
The present border conflict between India and China regarding McMahon Line was drafted between British India and Independent Tibet in 1914. Do you think the Tibet and border issues have some common ground?
These issues are very much connected . The treaty was negotiated between a British Indian representative, the then Tibetan PM and a Chinese representative . China didn’t sign the final draft as it had border issues with Tibet. But the Tibetan governmentin-exile’s stand is that McMahon Line should be acknowledged as it was a treaty signed by Tibet.
What is the current status of negotiations between Dharamsala and Beijing?
Our envoys met their Chinese counterparts nine times between 2003 and 2009, and presented the memorandum of genuine autonomy within the framework of Chinese constitutions. But since then, there has been no contact from the Chinese side.
Are you comfortable with the regime change in China following the conclusion of 18th Party Congress?
We will have to wait till March 2013, when there will be a change of guard for top Chinese political positions. We feel that with the induction of new people there ought to be a new perspective on the Tibet issue, given the tragedy in Tibet and failure of the Communist party’s hardline policies in the region.
What are your expectations of Xi Jinping whose father was considered a liberal Communist leader?
Xi Zhongxun, Xi Jinping’s father, was close to the Panchen Lama and knew the present Dalai Lama, and was very liberal in his political approach. Whether the son will be like his father is yet to be seen.
Do you think the middle path approach for Tibet is still relevant?
The middle path — which is asking for genuine autonomy within the framework of Chinese constitution — is the official policy of our administration based on the resolution passed by Tibetan Parliament-in-exile . Democracy and non-violence are two basic and uncompromising principals we believe in to achieve our goals. The concept of freedom is becoming a global trend and we believe China will come around at some point.
ISSUE IS OF ENVIRONMENTAL INTEREST TOO
The Tibet issue is not only a geopolitical issue but also of environmental interest for countries of South East Asia, said Lobsang Sangay, the Sikyong or Prime Minister of Tibetan governmentin-exile in Bangalore on Saturday. “Ten of Asia’s greatest rivers, including Brahmaputra, Indus, Yangtze and Mekong, have their origin in Tibet. At present, 500 million Chinese face water crisis. If the Communist regime tries to divert water from these rivers into their own lands, as reported by media, it will spell trouble for some of the South East Asian countries,” Sangay said.
Sangay visited the city en route to Mundgod, North Karnataka, where the Dalai Lama will have his 23th Nobel Prize commemoration ceremony on December 10.