Green or Red, Beijing's Response Expected Soon

Dharamsala, 16 April: In what may turn out to be the light at the end of the tunnel, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the Kalon Tripa said he expects a response from China within the next 2 weeks to his administration's request to 'discuss the matter of beginning the actual process of negotiations'.

The Kalon Tripa had earlier told the seventh session of the Assembly of the Tibetan People's Deputies in March this year that a delegation might visit China and Tibet in the next two or three months. Talking to Voice of Tibet radio service, the Kalon Tripa said there has not been any development and the situation is as it was when it gave its report to the seventh session of the assembly.

He said he is expecting Beijing's response within the next one or two weeks as to whether to be shown a green signal to the delegation or not.

Asked if there would be change in the delegation's composition, the executive head of the Tibetan administration said that except for the effort to add another person to the delegation there will be no change.

" We are trying to add one more person to the delegation if it is accepted by China ", he said.

Rinpoche hoped the delegation this time will be able to spend more time in Beijing, interact with retired government officials who have past ties with Tibet, scholars, scientists and political leaders as well.

"I hope this time they will be able to travel to places in Dotoe and Domed (two of the three traditional Tibetan provinces) where they could not go during the last two visits", Rinpoche said.

Responding to a question whether the U.S resolution against China at the 60th Commission of UNCHR and the decision of Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama will hinder the exile administration's efforts of creating conducive environment for dialogue, Rinpoche said that the US resolution was not initiated or requested by his administration and that it was the Canadian citizens and not the Tibetan administration who lobbied for the meeting and therefore should not be a cause of hindrance to the atmosphere for dialogue.

On possibilities of the Tibetan delegation meeting Chinese leaders outside China, Rinpoche said that he would wish it could happen if leaders of People's Republic of China agree. " Meetings, as many and wherever possible, will be favourable to the efforts of negotiation". But all this, he continued, will depend on the PRC leadership.

The Assembly of the Tibetan People's Deputies, however, had passed a resolution during its seventh session to review the entire approach of the Middle Way if China does not respond to Dharamsala's call before the ninth session in 2005.

Meanwhile, the exile administration can only wait and hope.

  Email This Article |   Printer version | Other news  |  Top   |  Home