EDITORIAL

The Rungtsen Factor

The sixth round negotiation has just recently completed. The chief envoy has issued a very short press release informing us that the “dialogue process has reached a critical stage”. In other words, envoys returned empty handed. Yet again.

Six years have passed and six rounds of talks have been conducted between Dharamsala and Beijing. In the world of diplomacy and engagement, six years is a very short period, a wink of eye. I believe we Tibetans have been impatient and naive in showing our reactions to the outcome of talks in the past.

I am no cynic. It is a historical task and there is no easy way out. It will take time and effort. Unfortunately the longer the talk drags, the more it is unsettling for Tibetans. The Tibetans will see it as a tactic by China to drag on the issue rather than resolving it.

I personally believe the ‘autonomous Tibet’ for future Tibet is not the best and the ultimate goal but it is equally true that it is the only thing left for us considering the profile of our adversary. Unfortunately, many Tibetans are of view that the Chinese leaders are not keen in finding a resolution.
In the last two decades since the Dalai Lama’s U-turn offer and the abandonment of independence, the Tibetan people stood by him. The term “Middle Way” has become a much cliched expression for Tibetans. Since 2002, Tibetans have rallied along with Kashag government conceding to the dictat issued by the Beijing. The protests rallies, campaigns and anti-China sentiments have been restrained by Tibetans world over in order to facilitate the negotiations to progress in achieving positive outcomes. But so far, the response from the Chinese side has been anti-climax; they haven’t come forward with anything as a gesture of “thawing”.

In doing so, Tibetan people have relinquished the quest for independent Tibet under the auspice of the Dalai Lama. Tibetans have responded well to the preconditions laid down by the Chinese counterpart. In contrary, a barrage of unprecedented criticisms were leveled against the Dalai Lama in the recent times, the situations in Tibet showed no progress but in contrary there has been a huge surge in repression and violations of human rights inside Tibet.

Many Tibetans are now beginning to conjure up an opinion that the ongoing negotiation is only to serve the vested interests of China such as boosting the image of China in the global arena, to assert its peaceful rise, to put aside the agenda of Tibet, to buy time to let the Dalai Lama age in exile, to accelerate their ongoing designs in Tibet to create momentum in their favour and never let Tibetans in deciding the future status of Tibet.
Tibetans are questioning China’s sincerity and seriousness about the dialogue and that has led to the resurgence of Tibetans, especially amongst the younger generation pushing for complete independence. Tibetans are coming out to protest in different hues, independence resolution being passed and organizations are planning their D-day for the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

The Rangzen factor has returned back. In this cover story we have an interview with Jamyang Norbu, gathered views from Tenzin Tsundue and Lhasang Tsering, the patriarchs of independence banner in exile. The question now is how will the Rangzen banner carry forward the Tibetan struggle in next few years?

It appears that the Chinese leadership lack both moral and political will to solve Tibet issue. I hope I am proven wrong. Tibetans have already made many concessions, stood firm with His Holiness and vehemently supported his ‘Middle Way’ approach. If Beijing squanders the benignity of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people in exchange for short-term political gains and deceptions, they will have to pay a heavy price in a long run.
-The Editor

Chukora Tsering Agloe
The Editor
editor@tibetoday.com