The attention of the world turned to Dharamsala last week when nearly
600 Tibetan delegates, as representatives of the six million Tibetans
in Tibet and in exile, converged in this hill town to discuss the
future of our struggle. This meeting was called by the Dalai Lama, and
organised by the Tibetan Parliament. The Tibetan people were told to
take greater leadership in light of the failure of the dialogue with
China and the ongoing crisis inside Tibet. Excitement and speculation
began brewing in many corners of the world — will the Tibetan people,
frustrated by China's intransigence, decide to pursue independence?
In an anticlimactic but somewhat predictable outcome, the
delegates at the meeting spoke in favour of continuing the Dalai Lama's
conciliatory Middle Way approach which seeks autonomy for Tibet within
the framework of the People's Republic of China. The option of changing
the goal of the Tibet movement to complete independence was included in
the final meeting statement as a possible alternative if there is no
progress in the near future.
Some observers have described this outcome as a blow to those
of us advocating independence, but we don't see it that way. As Tibetan
youth leaders who participated in this historic meeting, we see this as
a first step toward fundamental change. We understand, in spite of our
impatience, that it is going to take some time to move the Tibetan
establishment and public, long been committed to this approach. We were
encouraged to see senior ministers and employees of the Tibetan Government
in exile openly exchanging ideas with delegates representing the
grassroots from far-flung Tibetan communities and NGOs. Many of us
participated in passionate debates with respect for each other's
differing views. And in the end, we felt refreshed by the openness of
the discussions.
To anyone who knows the recent history of Tibetan exile society
and the often painful divisions that have occurred around the question
of independence versus autonomy, this meeting was a very positive sign.
The ultimate success of our movement depends on the creation of a
vibrant democratic society that brings out the best in every individual
— and that is exactly what we witnessed in Dharamsala last week.
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