‘Ready for talks, Dalai Lama’s vision shows way ahead’

Dharamsala, June 18

Tibetan Parliament-in-exile Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang on Tuesday said “we are ready for a dialogue for autonomy. We can keep our culture, religion, education, environment, health and language, and China can deal with defence and foreign affairs.”

The “Middle way” policy is the vision of the Dalai Lama. The Central Tibetan Administration — the 45 member elected body — is committed to it, she added. It says Tibet would remain part of the People’s Republic of China, but Tibetans would have meaningful autonomy.

On being asked if the CTA was looking to restart the stalled dialogue with China, she said: “We would want a political person to be on board when the dialogue process re-starts with China.”

Nine rounds of China-Tibet talks happened from 2002 to 2010 between Dalai Lama’s representatives and the Chinese government. No formal talks have been held since then. Separately, back channel talks are on at reviving the overall dialogue process.

On being asked about taking the Tibetan cause forward, Teykhang said “The democratic process of the CTA is the way forward,” she said, adding that the Dalai Lama had said in 2001 that a day will come when he will not be there and had set up the democratically elected CTA. Beijing does not recognise the CTA.

“The Dalai Lama had made it clear that the political process will take things forward. He is building the trust towards the political leader, the Sikyong (Prime Minister),” Teykhang added.

In 2011, the Dalai Lama relinquished his political authority by appointing a Sikyong.